MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Tarleton TexAnn softball team rebounded for two victories on Saturday at the Southern Arkansas Tournament in Magnolia, Ark. taking game one against SAU (3-1) and winning game two against Ouachita Baptist (2-1).
The TexAnns dropped the third game of the day, 1-0.
“We weren't being patiend at the plate, and we squandered opportunities,” said Tarleton head coach Julie Mata. “I was proud of our defensive effort, but we spotted them a run and never got going.”
The TexAnns will return to action on Tuesday, March at Panhandle State. The doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m.
*Editor's Note: No stats available Saturday for second game with OBU.
Tarleton 3, Southern Arkansas 1
Tarleton jumped on top in the front half of the third inning when Rebecca Wessels tripled down the right field line to open the frame. Kelsey Latta then had a sacrifice fly to left field to score the runner and give Tarleton a 1-0 lead.
The TexAnns added to the advantage in the top of the fourth. Abigail Tammen reached on a fielding error by the shortstop and advanced to second. Katie Welborn then homered to left center to give the TexAnns a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Muleriders scored one run on two hits to cut the lead to 3-1, but that was all the home team could muster as the TexAnns won by the same score.
Samantha Swanda pitched all seven games, and she gave up one run on three hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
Tarleton 2, Ouachita Baptist 1
Randi Fentress started the game against Ouachita Baptist and pitched the first five innings giving up just two hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. Samantha Swanda pitched the final four innings and allowed just one hit with a walk and two strikeouts. Swanda got the win.
No runner crossed the plate until the top of the eighth inning. Arianna Rodriguez was placed on second for the international tie breaker, and she advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Tammen. Fentress then doubled to score Rodriguez and give the TexAnns a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, with a runner on second, a sacrifice bunt moved the runner who later scored on a single by Sarah Bell to tie the game at one run each.
In the top of the ninth with Wessels on second, she advanced to third on a passed ball. With two outs, Samantha Swanda singled to left to score Wessels and put the TexAnns on top, 2-1.
In the bottom of the frame with a runner on second, Swanda got three popouts to end the game and give Tarleton the 2-1 victory.
