STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — Slade McCloud delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning and Rayner Heinrich added an RBI triple as Tarleton State rallied past Texas-Rio Grande Valley 7-4 on Friday night at Tarleton Baseball Complex.

Tarleton State improved to 32-16, while the Vaqueros fell to 24-26. Both teams combined for 16 hits, eight apiece, but the Texans capitalized on two Vaqueros errors and a series of timely two-out hits to erase an early deficit.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Garza Gongo, Williams and Raygoza each made outs to open the game, but the Vaqueros appeared to have momentum after a leadoff homer from Ramirez in the second inning put them ahead. The Vaqueros added another run in the second on a wild pitch and a hit-by-pitch, though they left the bases loaded after Gonzalez struck out looking.

Tarleton State starter Matthew McCullough settled in after the rocky start, completing five innings with four hits and three earned runs allowed while striking out five. He departed after the fifth with the score tied 4-4.

The Vaqueros struck again in the fifth inning when Gonzalez singled and Gongo homered to right field, scoring two runs and giving Texas-Rio Grande Valley a 4-4 tie. The Vaqueros had taken the lead in the top of the second on Ramirez’s solo home run to left field, then added a run on a wild pitch and another on a hit-by-pitch before McCullough escaped further damage.

Tarleton State answered in the bottom of the third against Vaqueros starter Sergio Lopez. Lopez pitched 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out one, but he was lifted after walking Heinrich. Nick Nolan entered and gave up a throwing error by the pitcher that allowed Tatom to advance to third. Lorch singled to drive in the unearned run, cutting the lead to 4-1.

The Texans tied the game in the fourth inning. After a strikeout and a double by Shirey, Smeenk singled to left field to drive in Shirey, making it 4-2. Johnson singled, and Tatom followed with an RBI single to right, scoring Smeenk. McCloud then grounded into a fielder’s choice that drove in Johnson, tying the game at 4-4 before Heinrich grounded out to end the inning.

The decisive inning came in the sixth. With the score still tied, Tarleton State loaded the bases on a walk to Shirey, a stolen base and an error by the catcher, and a walk to Johnson. After a strikeout, McCloud singled to left field, scoring Johnson and Shirey, with both runs unearned due to a fielding error by the left fielder. McCloud advanced to second on the error, then stole third. Heinrich tripled to right field to drive in McCloud, extending the lead to 7-4.

Tarleton State reliever Karsen Davis pitched three innings, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out two, earning the win. Anthony Treto closed the ninth inning with a scoreless frame, allowing one hit and striking out one.

The Vaqueros mounted a late threat in the eighth inning. Raygoza singled, advanced to second on a groundout, and scored on a single by Villescas to cut the lead to 7-5. Warren singled to put runners on first and second, but Edinger struck out swinging to end the inning.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley used six pitchers in the game, with Sergio Lopez, Nick Nolan, Charles Vercoe, Caden Wanless, Anthony Garcia and Steven Oliva combining for eight strikeouts and three earned runs. Oliva pitched a scoreless eighth inning with two strikeouts.

The Vaqueros will face the Texans again Saturday and Sunday to conclude the three-game series.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Tarleton State 7, Texas-Rio Grande Valley 6. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Texas-Rio Grande Valley with a 51.30 percent probability to win.