STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton TexAnn softball team split with Texas A&M-International Tuesday after losing game one (8-7) and winning the nightcap (11-2).
Tarleton moved to 10-12 overall with the split.
Arianna Rodriguez had two home runs on the day, including a three-run blast in the second game after going two-of-four in game two. She was three-for-four in the first game with an RBI and two runs scored to tally a total of five-for-eight at the plate on Tuesday in the doubleheader.
Julie Norris pitched eight innings and got the victory. She allowed just six hits and two runs, both unearned.
The TexAnns will return to action on Saturday, March 20 at Central Oklahoma. The doubleheader in Edmond, Okla. will begin at 3 p.m.
Texas A&M-International 8, Tarleton 7
The TexAnns got on the board first in the bottom of the first frame when Rebecca Wessels started the game with a single up the middle. She stole second before Tami Sutton singled to first to put runners on the corners. Sutton stole second prior to Norris reaching on an error to load the bases. Brittany Terry was hit by a pitch to score the runner. The TexAnns led 1-0.
TAMIU then scored four runs on four hits and an error to take a 4-1 lead in the top of the third, but Tarleton struck back in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Sutton reached on an error and advanced to second. Norris doubled down the left field line to score the runner and cut the lead to 4-2.
The Dustdevils added two runs on a hit and an error in the top of the fourth, but the TexAnns again responded with runs. Rodriguez homered to left to open the frame before Brandie Simmons walked. A ground out by Amy Gabbert moved Simmons to second before she went to third on a passed ball. Wessels singled on a bunt to score Simmons and then stole second. With two outs, Norris singled to third to score Wessels and make it 6-5 Dustdevils.
The visitors added two runs on two hits in the top of the fifth to take an 8-5 advantage, but Tarleton scored two more in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Victoria Kelly singled before Rodriguez did the same. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice fly by Simmons. Ashlyn Aston then reached on an error that scored both runners and made it 8-7.
The TexAnns got on the bases in the bottom of the sixth and seventh, but Tarleton couldn't cross the plate.
Katie Smith started the game and threw for five innings and allowed eight runs, six earned. She walked one and struck out three. Norris pitched the final two innings and allowed two hits and no runs with two strikeouts.
Tarleton 11, Texas A&M-International 2
The TexAnns jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the bottom of the first. Wessels started the inning with a walk before advancing to second and stealing third. Kelly singled up the middle. Norris bunted aboard safely before a sacrifice bunt by Terry moved the runners over. Rodriguez then doubled up the middle to score Norris and Kelly to give the TexAnns a 3-0 advantage.
The lead held until the top of the fourth when the Dustdevils scored two runs on a hit and an error to cut the lead to one, 3-2.
In the bottom of the sixth with two outs, Gonzalez walked before Aston singled to short. Karissa Kroll then doubled to left center to score both runners. Wessels singled up the middle to put runners at the corners before Wessels stole second. Kelly walked to load the bases before Norris singled through the left side to score Wessels and Kroll. Terry reached on an error and Kelly scored. Rodriguez then hit her second home run of the game to give the TexAnns the run-rule victory.
Norris pitched all six innings for the purple and white and allowed four hits, two runs and three walks while striking out one.
