Tarleton State Baseball (8-9) took the fourth and final game of the weekend against New Mexico (8-9), 4-3, achieving their first series sweep of the season.
In the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases loaded, Jaime Perez stepped up on a 1-1 count to deliver the Texans’ first walk-off of the 2025 season. Despite going 0-4 to start the game, the senior stepped up to clinch the win for the Texans, notching his 13th RBI of the season in stellar fashion.
“Before anything happened, Coach Smith said that this was our guy. Sergio setting the tone and then Rayner coming in clutch after that was big time!” said Perez. “I figured they would walk Tyson to set up the double play. Before I went up to bat, Slade kept telling me that this is what we play the game for. With the infield in and guys on base, I knew I had to stick to my gameplan. I had a tough day leading up to the ninth, so I got to my two-strike approach right away and just knew I had to put something in play. I got the pitch I was looking for and after that it was history! The guys before me and the pitching staff made it all happen. The faith, love and trust that we all have in each other is like no other”.
The Lobos came out hot in the top of the first inning, tallying two straight doubles to give them an early 1-0 lead. Akili Carris blasted a two-RBI single to put New Mexico 3-0.
Tarleton State scored their first run in the second inning thanks to a triple from Sergio Guerra, his fourth extra-base hit of the season that drove in Slade McCloud. The Texans managed to load the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning but could not capitalize, leaving New Mexico’s lead at two.
Andrew Hardin came in to pitch for the Texans during the sixth inning and struck out his first three batters, giving Tarleton State some much needed momentum heading into the final innings. In the bottom of the sixth stanza, Mason Kirk tallied a single, followed by a double from Trace Morrison that scored Kirk and brought the Purple and White within one run.
Hardin continued to dominate the mound, striking out four more batters in the seventh and eighth innings. Neither team could break through and the game remained 3-2 in favor of the Lobos heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Sergio Guerra hit a leadoff double to give life to the Purple and White. Blake Wilson drew a walk shortly after, putting two runners on with one out. Rayner Heinrich launched a double to right field, tying the game up at 3-3 and inching the Texans closer to victory. After Tyson Drake was intentionally walked, Jaime Perez stepped up on a 1-1 count and delivered an RBI single to win the game for the Texans, 4-3.
Each team registered seven hits apiece. The Lobos had one error while the Texans had zero. Tarleton State tallied a season-high 11 strikeouts as opposed to New Mexico’s four.
Tarleton State Baseball will look to continue their hot streak when they take on the UIW Cardinals at the Tarleton Baseball Complex on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Get tickets here.
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