SAN ANTONIO – The TexAnn softball team split a nonconference doubleheader at St. Mary's on Tuesday, winning the first game 6-3 before dropping the night cap 12-8.
Tarleton has now taken three-of-four from the Lady Rattlers this season after sweeping St. Mary's in Stephenville earlier this year.
"I am proud of the way our girls are fighting and playing right now," said Tarleton head coach Julie Mata. "Ashlyn [Aston] is doing a great job of coming in and hitting as a pinch hitter and a DH as well. Arianna [Rodriguez] is also doing a good job at the plate.
The TexAnns are now 12-14 heading into the Lone Star Conference Crossover Tournament this weekend in Durant, Okla. Tarleton will play six games from Friday through Sunday, March 26-28.
Tarleton 6, St. Mary's 3
Tarleton got on the board in the top of the first inning. With one out , Victory Kelly singled to left center before Julie Norris reached on a fielder's choice that got Kelly out at second. April Gonzalez was then hit by a pitch to put two runners on prior to Arianna Rodriguez singling to right center to score Norris from second. Tarleton took the 1-0 lead.
Kelly opened the top of the third frame with a bunt single to second before Norris reached on an error by the catcher and both runners advanced. Gonzalez got a sacrifice fly to score Kelly and move Norris to third before Rodriguez walked to put runners at the corners. Rodriguez stole second and Tami Sutton singled to right to score Norris. Sutton then stole second prior to a Brittany Terry fly out. Brandie Simmons was hit by a pitch before Ashlyn Aston pinch hit for Amy Gabbert and doubled to right center to score Sutton and Rodriguez and give the TexAnns a 5-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the inning, the Lady Rattlers scored one run on three hits before adding two more in the bottom of the fourth on two hits to make it 5-3 Tarleton.
The TexAnns added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, though it wasn't needed. With one out, Gonzalez homered to left field to give Tarleton the 6-3 lead, and Norris shut down the side in the home half of the frame to give the TexAnns the win.
Norris pitched all seven innings and allowed one walk while striking out three. The Lady Rattlers had eight hits and three earned runs, but Norris forced five fly outs and 13 ground outs as she picked up her eighth win of the season.
St. Mary's 12, Tarleton 8
The TexAnns jumped on the board in the top of the second in game two, scoring three runs on three hits and an error. Sutton singled through the left side to open the inning before Terry reached on an error via a sacrifice bunt. Gabbert then singled to the catcher on a bunt to load the bases before each runner advanced on a passed ball as Sutton scored. With one out and Elyse Tatum on third as a pinch runner, Rebecca Wessels singled to center to score Tatum and put runners on the corners. Wessels then stole second before Kelly grounded out to second to score Gabbert. Tarleton led 3-0.
St. Mary's scored two runs in the bottom of the third on two hits to make it 3-2.
In the top of the fourth inning, Tarleton struck again. With one away, Meagan Eldridge walked before Wessels reached on an error by the third baseman. Kelly singled to load the bags prior to a Katie Smith single to left that scored Eldridge. Gonzalez walked for an RBI that scored Wessels. Rodriguez reached on an error by the shortstop and advanced to second on the throw to score both Smith and Kelly. Sutton singled to score Gonzalez. Tarleton led 8-3.
The Lady Rattlers then came storming back, scoring three runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to two, 8-6. The home team then added seven runs on seven hits and an error in the bottom of the sixth to make it 12-8. The TexAnns had two runners on in the top of the final frame, but they failed to cross the plate.
Smith started the game and pitched the first 2.2 innings and allowed five hits and two runs while striking out one and walking two. Norris came in to pitch three innings and gave up nine runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout. Norris got the loss. Simmons pitched one-third of an inning and allowed three hits and one run with one strikeout.
