- Tarleton 8, Newman 0 - six innings
- Tarleton 9, Newman 1 - five innings
STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton TexAnns got the 2011 softball season to a great start on Saturday in Stephenville with a sweep over Newman. Tarleton took an 8-0 run-rule victory in six innings in game one before taking a 9-1 mercy win in five innings.
"This was a great way to start the season," said Tarleton head coach Julie Mata. "We had a lot of energy today, and we definitely competed together. We were aggressive on the bases. I thought our pitchers, and battery as a whole, did a very good job with what was asked of them."
In the first game, Samantha Swanda had a no-hitter into the fifth inning while tallying 12 strikeouts in her Tarleton debut.
Katie Smith and Randi Fentress combined for a three hitter in game two as the TexAnns claimed the second game at the Tarleton Softball Complex.
At the plate, Tarleton was led by Arianna Rodriguez and Abigail Tammen with a .500 batting average each in the doubleheader. Rodriguez had four runs batted in to lead the team with a home run while Swanda added a home run of her own.
The TexAnns will return to action at Texas A&M-International on Monday, Feb. 14. The doubleheader in Laredo is set to begin at noon.
Tarleton 8, Newman 0 – six innings
Transfer pitcher Samantha Swanda started off game one with three straight strikeouts and didn't look back Saturday as she pitched a two-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts in her first game as a TexAnn.
Rebecca Wessles walked to start off the first inning for the TexAnns before she stole second. Alexandria Orf used a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to third before Wessels scored on an illegal pitch by NU's Sarah Fipps.
The TexAnns added to the score in the bottom of the second when Kesley Latta doubled to left center and Brittany Dumas reached on an error. The error on the catch by the first baseman allowed Latta to score and give Tarleton a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third frame, Swanda led off with a single to center before advancing to third on an error by the first baseman on a bunt by Abigail Tammen. Tammen then stole second prior to advancing to third on a sacrifice fly to center by Rodriguez that scored Swanda. Latta then singled to left to score Tammen and give the TexAnns a 4-0 advantage.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, Orf singled up the middle before Katie Welborn singled to right. Swanda reached on a fielder's choice that moved the runners up as Orf was safe at third on a dropped catch. Tammen reached on a fielder's choice that safely advanced all runners as Orf slid into home plate. Arriana Rodriguez then doubled to score Freitas, but Swanda was thrown out at the plate. Tarleton added two runs to take a 6-0 lead.
The first hit for the Jets came in the top of the fifth on a screamer down the left field line that was just out of reach of Tarleton third baseman Orf. However, Swanda then got two outs to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth, Anna Scheuffele got a single to right field with two outs, but Tarleton stopped the threat with a fielder's choice out.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Tammen singled up the middle before Arianna Rodriguez homered to center field to give the TexAnns the run-rule.
Tarleton 9, Newman 1 – five innings
The TexAnns got the scoring going in the bottom of the first again in game two as Wessels started off with a bunt, and she reached when the second baseman covering the bag dropped the ball. An Orf sacrifice bunt moved Wessels to third after she was awarded second on an illegal pitch. Welborn then walked before Swanda put a three-run home run ball over the right center field fence. Tammen then doubled to right center prior to advancing to third on a wild pitch. She then stole home to give the TexAnns a 4-0 lead.
Tarleton added a run in the bottom of the second inning when Wessels scored on an RBI single by Eryn Freitas to give the home team a five-run lead.
In the top of the fourth inning, Emily Zimmerman singled with one out and then advanced to second on a passed ball. She moved to third on a single by Katie Traffas before scoring when a pickoff attempt at third went off her leg. She turned and slid into home in a close play where the call went her way on the tag, and the Jets had their first run of the day, trailing 5-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, Tammen singled to center to start the frame before Arianna Rodriguez singled on a bunt and Tammen went to third on an error. As Arianna stole second, the shortstop dropped the ball allowing Tammen to score. Misti Lindamood then singled up the middle before Randi Fentress doubled to left center to score two runs. Fipps came in to the game to pitch for Stephanie Smolsky and Marcie Rodriguez singled to short. Wessels was then hit by a pitch to load the bases and a single off the body of a diving first baseman by Orf scored Fentress to give the TexAnns the 9-1 run-rule victory.
