DENTON – The Tarleton TexAnns split a Lone Star Conference South Division doubleheader at Texas Woman's in Denton on Saturday. Tarleton won 4-1 in the first game before falling 2-1 in the second game of the twin bill.

Tarleton moved to 21-24 overall and 6-8 in the South Division while the Pioneers are 36-17 overall and 9-6 in division play.

Due to injuries, the TexAnns' lineup was way off the regular setup, but the TexAnns still had a chance to take two victories in Denton.

“Katie [Smith] pitched 13 great innings for us,” said Tarleton head coach Julie Mata. “We had three starters out today, and we had to mix up the lineup. However, we stayed alive. I am proud of the way the girls fought in this series.”

The TexAnns will return to action in the final regular season series next weekend when they host Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Texas Woman's started the scoring in the first game in the bottom of the second getting its only run of the contest on a double by April Mandel that scored pinch runner Jordan Giesen to make it 1-0.

In the top of the fifth inning with two outs, Brandie Simmons singled to shortstop before Tiffany Latta doubled to left. Elyse Tatum pinch ran for Latta, then Victoria Kelly walked. Tami Sutton singled to the pitcher to score Simmons prior to Julie Norris singling up the middle to score Kelly and Tatum giving Tarleton a 3-1 lead.

In the top of the sixth inning, Ashlyn Aston singled to left. Then with two outs, Latta singled through the left side and Kelly walked. Sutton then singled up the middle to score Aston. Tarleton led 4-1.

Katie Smith then shut down the last three batters of the contest to get the win. Overall, Smith sat down 16 of the last 17 Pioneer batters with the other batter getting on via an error. Smith pitched all seven innings and allowed just three hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

TWU got one run on two hits in the bottom of the second inning to take the early lead, 1-0.

In the top of the fourth inning, Kelly opened the frame with a single to left field before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Sutton flied to left and Norris grounded out to second as Kelly advanced to third. April Gonzalez singled to left to score Kelly to tie the game at one run apiece.

In the bottom of the fifth a triple Lizzy Kelly with one out before a Billie Callahan sacrifice fly to left scored the winning run.

Tarleton threatened in the top of the sixth and had runners on every base with two outs when the Pioneers' third baseman snagged a line drive from Rebecca Wessels to end the inning. 

The TexAnns had a runner on in the top of the final frame as well, but the purple and white couldn't get the tying run around.

Smith started the game and got the loss, pitching six full innings. She allowed eight hits and two runs while striking out two.