STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The HCU baseball team, 8-3 over its last 11 games, heads north to take on the Tarleton State Texans in a three-game non-conference series this weekend at the Tarleton State Baseball Complex beginning Friday evening at 6:00 p.m.
The Huskies (8-8) and Texans (11-5) faced off for the first time ever last season, a 10-4 HCU win in a midweek game in Houston. This year, they are set for a full weekend series with both teams playing well. HCU has gotten off to a 4-2 start in Southland Conference play, winning series against both UIW and McNeese, while Tarleton has won seven of nine and is on a five-game winning streak with a win over Baylor and a four-game road sweep over New Mexico.
Levi Castilleja continued his scorching hot start to the season last weekend at McNeese, going 8-for-9 with two doubles, one home run, six RBI and three runs scored en route to earning SLC Co-Hitter of the Week honors. The redshirt junior is batting .548 on the season and is tied for second on the team with 13 RBI while starting just 10 of the team's 16 games.
Redshirt junior outfielder
Tyree Jackson leads HCU with 15 RBI and has hit a team-high three home runs. He is also a perfect 6-for-6 on stolen base attempts. Senior
Jack Walker leads the way with 14 runs scored while fellow senior
Katcher Halligan is tied for second in the SLC with seven doubles.
Tarleton started its current five-game win streak with a home midweek win over Baylor, defeating the Bears 6-5. They then traveled to Albuquerque, N.M. and took four games from the New Mexico Lobos, who entered the series with a record of 12-1.
Senior Slade McCloud lead the Tarleton offense, batting .404 with 14 RBI, 14 runs scored while leading the team with nine stolen bases. Four other players are hitting .350 or higher with sophomore Rayner Heinrich owning a team-high four home runs. On the mound, the Texans have a team ERA of 5.37 while the team's defense ranks second nationally with 1.19 double plays turned per game.
HCU returns home from a seven-game road swing on Tuesday, Mar. 17, for a St. Patrick's Day matchup against No. 24 UTSA at 6:30 p.m. at Husky Field.
