Late home run from UTA downs Texans

STEPHENVILLE - Tarleton State Baseball (15-20, 3-4 WAC) fell to the UT Arlington Mavericks (11-19, 3-4 WAC), losing 4-2 during the series opener on Friday evening.

Each team registered eight hits. Both bullpens put together solid performances, with the Texans tacking on six strikeouts opposed to UT Arlington's nine. Neither team recorded an error during the low-scoring affair.

Tyler Olson received the start at the mound for Tarleton State, putting together four innings of work and only allowing one earned run. Both teams put down all three batters in the first inning, setting the tone for what would be the Texans' lowest scoring game of the season.

The Mavericks accounted for the first run of the ballgame thanks to an RBI single from Austin Phillips that drove in Max Mims. The Purple and White couldn't respond in the bottom of the second stanza despite a lead-off single from Jaime Perez, going down on three straight strikeouts.

The game remained in favor of the Mavericks until the bottom of the fourth when Rayner Heinrich launched a lead-off double to left field, sliding into second base to give the Texans some much needed momentum. Heinrich eventually scored off an RBI groundout from Perez, tying the game up at 1-1.

Aden Lucas relieved Olson of his duties during the fifth inning and put down the side to start his night off. Sergio Guerra blasted a one-out double to center field in the bottom of the frame but the Texans were unable to score him, leaving the game at a stalemate.

UT Arlington finally broke the scoreless drought in the sixth inning thanks to a solo home run from Tyce Armstrong. The Purple and White did not let this go unanswered, tacking on a run of their own when Tyson Drake slid into home plate off a groundout RBI from Slade McCloud. This marked the 39th run of the year for Drake, a team high.

Trace Morrison hit a lead-off single in the seventh inning, followed by a single from Lane Brewster that advanced him to second base. Tarleton State, however, popped out twice and kept the game at 2-2 heading into the eighth. Tate Bethel notched a lead-off single for the Mavericks to start things off. After a pitching change from the Texans, Xavier Melendez hit a two-run home run to turn the tides in UTA's favor.

Tarleton State Baseball attempted to make a late push off a single from Carson Lorch, but eventually fell to their conference foe, 4-2. The Purple and White will look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon during game two of the series at 3 p.m. Get tickets here.