STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — The Tarleton State Texans opened their 2026 season with a powerful offensive display, overwhelming the Le Moyne Dolphins 20-3 in a nonconference baseball game Friday evening at Tarleton Baseball Complex.

The game’s outcome was decisively shaped by a monstrous third inning, where the Texans sent 18 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs, turning a competitive contest into a rout. The frame featured two home runs, including a grand slam, and saw the Texans capitalize on a parade of walks and timely hits.

Le Moyne struck first without a hit in the opening inning, taking advantage of three walks and a hit batter to push across three runs. The Dolphins’ early lead was short-lived, however, as Tarleton State’s Sean McCloud led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to left center.

The Texans took control for good in the second inning. After a walk, Sergio Guerra hit a two-run homer to left field to tie the game. Later in the inning, with a runner on, Ryan Heinrich hit a two-run shot to right center to give Tarleton State a 5-3 lead.

The floodgates opened in the third. The inning began with a hit batter and a double. Guerra then delivered a two-run single to center. After another single and a walk loaded the bases, Le Moyne relieved starting pitcher Petraitis with Molini. The pitching change provided no relief. Heinrich drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, and Sean McCloud followed by launching a grand slam over the right field fence, his second homer of the game, to make it 12-3. After two more batters reached, Guerra capped the historic inning with a three-run homer to left, his second of the game, plating three more for a 15-3 advantage.

Guerra finished with two home runs and seven RBIs. McCloud drove in five runs with his two homers. The Texans drew 10 walks and were hit by three pitches to go along with their 14 hits.

Le Moyne, held to six hits, scored single runs in the fourth and sixth innings. In the fourth, Mike Whelehan singled, stole second, and scored on a double by Jack Cannon. Dominick Russ, who had singled, later scored on a fielder’s choice by Ethan Farina. In the sixth, Cannon doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a groundout by Tyler Campbell.

Tarleton State added two runs in the fifth on a two-run single by Kellen Johnson and three more in the sixth on an RBI walk by Guerra and a two-run single by Ike Shirey.

The loss marked a tough start to the season for Le Moyne, which fell to 0-1. Tarleton State improved to 1-0. The two teams are scheduled to continue their series Saturday and Sunday in Stephenville.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Tarleton State entered the game with a 67.40 percent probability to win.