STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton TexAnn softball team won both Lone Star Conference South Division games Friday at home over Abilene Christian, 5-0 and 3-2.

The TexAnns were led by Julie Norris in game one with five runs batted in and the victory in the circle while in the bottom of the seventh of game two, Tarleton's Brittany Terry got a walk-off single that scored Arianna Rodriguez to give the TexAnns the victory.

“The girls played with a lot of fire today, and we really needed that to stay in the hunt for the postseason,” said Tarleton head coach Julie Mata. “We had some timely hitting and great pitching today while playing very good defense as well.”

The two teams will return to action on Saturday, April 17 with the final game of the series at noon. The Texan Club and Tarleton Athletics invite all fans to a hotdog cookout prior to the game. Free t-shirts and drinks will also be available.

Tarleton 5, Abilene Christian 0

The TexAnns jumped out to an early lead with run in the bottom of the first. Rebecca Wessels started the inning with a walk before Tami Sutton reached on a fielder's choice, but Wessels was safe at second on a fielding error. Norris then doubled up the middle to put the TexAnns on the board with two runs.

Then, in the bottom of the second frame with two outs, Wessels singled up the middle before Sutton was hit by a pitch. Norris then tagged a ball over the left field fence to give the TexAnns a 5-0 lead. 

Norris then gave up just three hits over the next four innings, but in the top of the seventh, the Wildcats recorded three singles, but Norris got a ground out to end the threat and preserve the shutout.

The TexAnn senior pitched all seven innings and allowed six hits and no walks while striking out one. She improved to 13-12 on the season with the victory.

Tarleton 3, Abilene Christian 2

The TexAnns got on the board early in game two as well, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first again. Wessels started the inning with a single before she stole second. A Norris double scored the runner before an April Gonzalez single scored Norris from second and gave the TexAnns a 2-0 advantage.

Neither team scored until ACU's Nancy Sawyers hit a two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at two runs apiece.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, ACU walked Norris to load the bases with two outs to bring up Gonzalez. The TexAnn senior catcher had a 3-1 count before she watched two straight called strikes go across the plate to end the inning.

The Wildcats had a runner at second with one out in the top of the seventh, before aground out put the second out on the board. Then, the runner at second was called for interference to end the top of the frame.

In the bottom of the seventh, Arianna Rodriguez led off with a walk before a single by Kelly put two runners on for Brittany Terry. Terry then singled up the middle to score the winning run as Rodriguez slid in for the score. Tarleton won, 3-2.

Smith got the victory with seven innings pitched while allowing two runs on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts.