STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton TexAnn softball team swept a Lone Star Conference South Division doubleheader at home on Friday against Eastern New Mexico. The TexAnns won 10-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning in game one before winning 7-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning in the nightcap.
Tarleton improved to 17-17 overall and 2-3 in the LSC South Division with the victories, both in part coming with help from freshman shortstop Arianna Rodriguez. The shortstop scored the run in the bottom of the sixth that gave Tarleton the run-rule victory in the first game. Then, in the second game in the bottom of the eighth inning, her single up the middle score the winning run.
Pitcher Julie Norris claimed both victories on Friday to improve to 12-10 overall from the circle.
The two teams will play the third and final game of the series at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 3 at the Tarleton Softball Complex.
Tarleton 10, Eastern New Mexico 2
The TexAnns scored first with three runs in the bottom of the second. With two outs, Amy Gabbert singled up the middle before stealing second. Meagan Eldridge walked prior to a Rebecca Wessels single up the middle scored Gabbert and put runners at the corners. After a Wessels steal of second, Victoria Kelly singlued up the middle to score both runners to give Tarleton the 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth frame, Wessels singled with one out on a bunt before stealing second and advancing to third on an error by the catcher. Wessels scored on an illegal pitch. With two outs, Norris doubled down the left field line and advanced to third on another illegal pitch. She scored after reaching on an error by the short stop after Rodriguez hit the ball. April Gonzalez singled to left to put runners at first and second before Brittany Terry homered to center to give the TexAnns an 8-0 lead.
ENMU scored one run on two hits and an error in the top of the fifth to extend the game before adding another run in the top of the sixth on two hits and an error to make it 8-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Norris opened the inning by being hit with a pitch before Rodriguez singled and advanced to second on an error by the left fielder. Gonzalez singled down the left line to score Norris before Terry reached on an error and Rodriguez scored the winning run.
Norris gave up just seven hits and two runs, each unearned. She walked one and struck out two. She got seven fly outs and eight ground outs.
Tarleton 7, Eastern New Mexico 6 (8 innings)
The Zias scored first in the opening frame with one run on an Alex Mayo Otis home run over the right field fence. Tarleton then scored in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Wessels opened the bottom of the first with a single before stealing second with one out. Norris grounded out for a sacrifice bunt before Rodriguez singled to left to score the TexAnn and tied the game at one.
Tarleton got the lead in the bottom of the second with a run when Tami Sutton scored. With one, the TexAnn senior singled down the left line before stealing second. Gabbert walked before Eldridge singled to third and advanced to second on the throw as Tami went around to score and give the TexAnns a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the third, Norris opened the frame with a double to right center. On a sacrifice bunt by Rodriguez, Norris went to third. Gonzalez was hit by a pitch. Elyse Tatum pinch ran for the catcher and stole second before a ground out by Terry scored Norris from third. Tarleton led 3-1.
In the top of the fifth inning, ENMU scored three runs on five hits to take the 4-3 lead, but Tarleton wasted no time in getting back on the board. Norris opened the bottom of the fifth frame with a walk before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rodriguez. Gonzalez reached on an error by the third baseman that put runners on the corners. Terry singled through the left side to score Gonzalez and Norris and give Tarleton a 5-4 lead.
The Zias tied the game with a run in the bottom of the sixth on three hits, but Tarleton again struck back. With two outs, Wessels singled to the shortstop before stealing second. Kelly reached on an error by the second baseman which scored Wessels and gave Tarleton a 6-5 advantage.
In the top of the seventh, ENMU scored one run on one hit, and the TexAnns got a runner on when Gonzalez walked to open the inning, but Tarleton couldn't get the senior around.
In the top of the extra inning, the Zias leadoff batter singled before a called strikeout and a nice pitcher-shortstop-first double play ended the top half of the inning. In the bottom of the eighth, Ashlyn Aston pinch hit to open the inning, and she got a single through the left side. Eldridge came back in to run at first and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Wessels. Kelly grounded out to the pitcher, and Eldridge advanced to third. Norris walked to put runners on the corners for Rodriguez, who singled up the middle to score Eldridge to give Tarleton the 7-6 victory.
Katie Smith started the game and pitched 6.1 innings, allowing nine hits and six runs while walking one and striking out two. Norris got the win after hitting 1.2 innings and allowing just two hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
