TSU recorded 16 hits as they defeated Tarleton State 11-7 in non-conference action on Tuesday night.
The Tigers fell behind 1-0 after the first inning but moved ahead 2-1 as Juan Sanchez hit a two-run homer over the left field wall in the second. The Texans tied it at 2-all in the bottom frame as TSU would return to the scoreboard in the fourth.
Sanchez dropped in a single to right followed by Michael Goudeau’s single to left which forced a Texan pitching change. Sanchez was picked off for the inning’s second out but Tyrese Clayborne drew a walk to move Goudeau into scoring position. Johnathon Thomas’ triple to deep center scored both Goudeau and Clayborne for a 4-2 lead.
On an evening with the wind blowing out, Tarleton took advantage with a pair of home runs to tie the contest at 4-all in the fourth. TSU would begin to create separation in the fifth as Jeremy Almaguer, CJ Castillo and Goudeau drove in runs for a 7-4 lead. Clayborne broke the game open with a two-run homer to left for a 9-4 margin.
TSU used the long ball to move up 10-4 in the sixth on Justin Cooper’s leadoff homer. Jeremy Gaines singled, stole second and scored the 11th run for TSU on Almaguer’s RBI.
The Tigers relied on their pitching staff from that point as they used a quartet of throwers in Kobe Head, Adolf Castillo, Alex Olguin and CJ Castillo to close out the game. The Texans attempted a late surge with a pair of ninth-inning homers but TSU closed it out on a game-ending groundout.
Seven Tigers had two hits apiece as Thomas, Almaguer Sanchez and Clayborne also had two RBI each to go along with two hits. Almaguer, Clayborne and Goudeau also scored a pair of runs.
George Osbourne earned the win with three strikeouts in 2.1 innings of action.