MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Tarleton TexAnn softball team dropped its first game of the Southern Arkansas Tournament against SAU, 3-2.
The winning run for the Muleriders came across in the bottom of the seventh inning with the score tied at two. A throwing error by pitcher Samantha Swanda allowed the runner on second to score and drop the TexAnns to 6-4-1 overall.
“We came out playing very flat today, and it got us in the end because we squandered scoring opportunities,” said Tarleton head coach Julie Mata. “Sam pitched another solid game.”
Rebecca Wessels started the game with a leadoff walk before stealing second. With one out, Swanda singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw home, but Wessels scored safely to give the TexAnns a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, the Muleriders scored one run on one hit and two errors to tie the game at one run each.
The TexAnns struck again in the top of the second. Katie Welbron singled to left to open the frame before Katie Ross pinch ran for the first baseman. Brittany Dumas used a sacrifice bunt to move the runner over before a ground out by Marcie Rodriguez moved Ross to third. Wessels then singled to left to score Ross. Abigail Tammen singled to short to put runners on the corner, but a line out by Swanda ended the inning with Tarleton ahead, 2-1.
The Muleriders tied the game again, this time at 2-2, in the bottom of the third inning on two hits.
Neither team scored again until the run in the bottom of the seventh that gave the home team the victory.
Tarleton had runners on in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings, but the TexAnns failed to cross the plate. Tarleton even had the bases loaded with just one out in the top of the sixth, but a called strikeout and a flyout to center ended the inning.
“We are going to have to learn how to be hungrier for outs, and we cannot make excuses for not getting it done,” Mata said. Becca and Alexandria really hit the ball hard today.”
Swanda pitched all 6.1 innings and allowed three runs (one earned) with one walk and nine strikeouts.
Julie Essary got the win for SAU after pitching all seven innings and allowing 10 hits with two earned runs, a walk and two strikeouts.
Tarleton will return to action on Saturday in three games at the tournament. The TexAnns will play SAU at 10 a.m. before playing Ouachita Baptist at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
