Tarleton State’s baseball team suffered a heavy 16-2 defeat against the No. 6 ranked Texas Longhorns in their NCAA Regional opener. The Texans walked 17 Longhorn batters, marking the highest number of walks allowed in a single game in the program’s history. They will face UC Santa Barbara in an elimination game on Sunday, needing a win to advance in the tournament. Texas dominated from the start, scoring 12 runs in the first four innings without hitting, primarily due to walks. Raphael Smeenk was a highlight for Tarleton, driving in both of the team's runs in the seventh inning.

By the Numbers
  • Tarleton State allowed 17 walks, breaking the previous record of 16 in a 1988 game.
  • The Longhorns jumped to a 12-0 lead within the first four innings.
State of Play
  • Tarleton State is now 3-9 historically in NCAA Regional games.
  • In the current postseason, the Texans' record stands at 4-1 after the loss.
  • 8,276 fans attended Saturday's game, the third-largest crowd in UFCU Disch-Falk Field history for a non-exhibition.
What's Next

Tarleton State's next challenge is an elimination game against UC Santa Barbara on Sunday at 12 p.m. CT. A win would set them up for a rematch against Texas later that same day in the Regional Final.

Bottom Line

Tarleton State must regroup after a disappointing performance and focus on overcoming UC Santa Barbara to keep their NCAA tournament hopes alive. Immediate improvement in pitching discipline will be crucial to avoid a repeat of Saturday's struggles.