- SEU 5, Tarleton 0
- Tarleton 11, SEU 1 (5 innings)
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STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton TexAnns split their home opening doubleheader Wednesday with St. Edward's, losing game one 5-0 but rebounding with a run rule 11-1 win in the nightcap.
Tarleton (5-4) ran into some untimely troubles in the first half that did not led the TexAnns get any offense going, but the TexAnns recorded a triple and three home runs in game two to help claim the second game at the Tarleton Softball Complex.
“We shook off the rust and hit the ball well in the second game,” said head coach Julie Mata. “We played good defense, and Katy Smith really pitched a great game for us.”
Mata's team threatened to score several times in game one, but the TexAnns just couldn't put together a rally after the Hilltoppers jumped out early.
“I thought Julie [Norris] pitched a good game for us in game one, but we just couldn't put everything together at once,” Mata said.
The TexAnns' next scheduled contest is Tuesday, Feb. 23 at Cameron. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. in Lawton, Okla.
St. Edward's 5, Tarleton 0
The visitors jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on two hits and an error before the Hilltoppers added a run in the top of the second on two hits to make it 3-0.
Tarleton recorded hits in every inning in the first game except the first. In the bottom of the third, Tarleton had two runners on before a foul out ended the threat. The TexAnns had then had runners on second and third in the bottom of the fifth before back-to-back strike outs ended the inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, the visitors added a run on a Stacy Giles' homer over the right center fence. SEU added a fifth run in the top of the seventh on an error that gave the Hilltoppers a 5-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the final frame of the first game, the TexAnns were threatening again. With one out Amy Gabbert singled to left before Rebecca Wessels walked. Tami Sutton then beat out a throw to first on a bunt, but the umpire called the TexAnn out, though runners did advance. Brittany Terry then grounded out to third to end the inning.
Norris threw the complete game and allowed five runs, four earned. She gave up seven hits while walking one and striking out six batters.
Tarleton 11, St. Edward's 1
The TexAnns came out strong in the second game scoring runs in the first two innings. Wessels singled to center and then stole second before Sutton moved her over on a sacrifice. Terry then singled to left to score Wessels before Julie Norris hit a two run homer over the center field fence. April Gonzalez was hit by a pitch before she scored on a Victoria Kelly triple down the right field line. Tarleton led 4-0 on four hits.
In the bottom of the second frame, the TexAnns struck again. Meagan Eldridge singled through the left side to open the inning before Wessels singled u the middle. Sutton reached on a fielder's choice when the pitcher tried to get the out a third, but the throw was late. With the bases loaded and no outs, Terry nailed a grand slam home run over the center field fence to put the TexAnns up by eight. With one out, Gonzalez singled down the left field line before Kelly reached on an error by the pitcher while Gonzalez went to third. Tarleton then executed the double-steal with Kelly taking second and Gonzalez stealing home. Arianna Rodriguez homered to center to score two runs. Gabbert then singled through the left side before an Eldridge walk. Wessels had a sacrifice to move the runners to second and third, but Sutton flew out to deep left field to end the inning. Tarleton scored seven runs on six hits and one error.
In the top of the third, SEU scored one run on two hits and an error to cut the lead to 10, but no other runner got past second as the TexAnns got the victory in the fifth inning on the run rule.
Smith three the complete game and allowed five hits, one unearned run, walked one and struck out three.
