STEPHENVILLE — Tarleton State exploded for 11 runs in the seventh inning to pull away and earn a 17–5 victory in seven innings over Incarnate Word on Tuesday afternoon at the Tarleton State Baseball Complex.
The Cardinals jumped out early, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning behind two home runs to take an early lead. Tarleton State answered in the third, putting together a strong two-out rally. Rayner Heinrich drove in the Texans’ first run with an RBI double, followed by a two-RBI single from Slade McCloud to cut the deficit to 4–3.
Tarleton State tied the game in the fourth when Kendyl Johnson grounded out to bring home Sergio Guerra. The Texans then grabbed their first lead of the day in the fifth, as Cage McCloud delivered an RBI single and Ike Shirey added a bunt single to make it 6–4.
Incarnate Word pushed across a run in the seventh to trim the lead to 6–5, but Tarleton State responded in a big way. The Texans sent 16 batters to the plate and poured in 11 runs on six hits, highlighted by a grand slam from Jake Tatom and a three-run homer by Cage McCloud. Heinrich and Slade McCloud also added RBI hits during the frame as Tarleton State broke the game open.
At the plate, Tatom finished 3-for-4 with four RBI, while Cage McCloud went 3-for-5 with four RBI. Sladae McCloud added four hits and three RBI, and Heinrich chipped in two doubles and two RBI. Tarleton State totaled 17 hits on the day.
On the mound, Aden Lucas, Jackson Elizondo, and Anthony Treto combined to throw four scoreless innings in relief, helping keep the Texans in control before the late offensive surge sealed the win.
Tarleton State moves to 5–3 on the season and will continue its season with a weekend series in Cleburne, Texas. The Texans will face off against Creighton this Friday, Feb. 27, at 2 p.m. at La Moderna Field.
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