The Tarleton State University Texan baseball team (4-3 prior to series) faced the Dust Devils of Texas A&M International University for their final non-conference series in their home opener. Head Coach Bryan Conger’s squad handled business in their 3-game series with St. Mary’s University last weekend, scoring 12 runs in the final game. This weekend, they walked away with two wins and a loss.

The Dust Devils found home twice in the opening inning, but Jonathan Schmitz kept the Texans hot on their trail with a trip across the diamond of his own before entering the 2nd. During the bottom of the 3rd, Brandon Villeneuve’s RBI catalyzed Alec Humphries’ scoring run that tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the 3rd. Despite the Dust Devils adding 3 to their total in the top of the 4th, Kevin Meredith’s homer combined with 2 runs from Matthew Olive and Elijah Christianson sent both teams into the 5th tied up at 5-5. A scoreless 5th inning posed no threat to the Texans – a 6th inning 6-5 deficit was quickly augmented to a tie after Christianson once again crossed home plate.

Dalton Weeks and Meredith added 2 runs in the 7th inning that granted the Texans their first lead of the contest, as they entered the 8th with an 8-6 advantage. Hunter Houston filled in for Eythan Lenz, and would allow zero runs that allowed Landon Merka and Schmitz to both score runs that pushed Tarleton to a 4-run lead entering the final inning (10-6). Despite allowing a run in the 9th without ever crossing home during Tarleton’s last at bat, the Texans went on to win their 1st home game by a 10-7 final over the Dust Devils.

Collaborative efforts on the mound in game two came courtesy of Cole Foster, Lenz, Houston, Troual Yosko and John Kresta, who each pitched a single inning – Matt Herrick contributed four. The Dust Devils managed to steal lower-scoring affair in Saturday’s first matchup by a final of 3-1. Dual pitching was handled by Kyle Gottardy (5IP) and Cole Foster (2IP). Meredith’s RBI to centerfield in the 7th provided Merka’s opportunity to cross home plate for the Texans’ first and only run of the game.

Two hours after defeating Tarleton 3-1, the Dust Devils faced four fierce innings from pitcher Blane Bagely as they managed what would be their only run of the game in the opening inning. Christianson delivered Humphries across the plate prior to Landon Thompson’s home run, providing Tarleton a 2-1 advantage before scoreless 2nd and 3rd innings. Meredith’s RBIs prompted Thompson to add a run for Tarleton, and eventually led to a score after Collin Scribner batted him (4-1, bottom of 4th). The final score of the game came in the 5th, when Merka’s RBI single to left led to Evan Robinson and Humphries both accounting for runs and leaving Tarleton with a 6-1 lead (bottom of 5th). Colton Burleson and Trevor Benfro’s control on the mound provided zero opportunities to the visitors who would lose to the Texans by a final of 6-1.

Tarleton will enter conference play with a 6-4 record and will host St. Mary’s University on March 4 before hosting Angelo State University for a series beginning March 6.