- Box Score Game 1
- Box Score Game 2
DENTON - The Tarleton TexAnn softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Henderson State on Tuesday in Denton. The TexAnns fell 3-1 in game one before taking the nightcap, 7-1.
The TexAnns improved to 15-10-1 while the Lady Reddies are now 12-15 after the split.
Tarleton will return to action this weekend when it hosts No. 1 Angelo State on Friday and Saturday, March 25-26. The TexAnns will host the Rambelles for one game on Friday at 3 p.m. before the two teams play a doubleheader on Saturday at noon.
Henderson State 3, Tarleton 1
The Lady Reddies struck first in game one with two runs on two hits and an error to take the early lead in the top of the third inning.
The TexAnns cut the lead in half with a run in the bottom of the inning. Amy Gabbert reached on an error. With one out, Rebecca Wessels reached on a fielder's choice while Gabbert moved to third on a throwing error, but Wessels then got thrown out at second. Gabbert then scored on a passed ball to cut the lead to 2-1.
HSU got a run on one hit to take a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth before the Lady Reddies held the TexAnns to just one hit over the next two runs to sustain the lead.
Samantha Swanda pitched 5.1 innings and got the loss to fall to 8-6 in the circle for the TexAnns. She allowed four hits and three runs with a walk while striking out eight batters. Randi Fentress pitched the final 1.2 innings and allowed just one hit.
Tarleton 7, Henderson State 1
The TexAnns did not take long to get on the board in game two. Wessels singled on a bunt and then was moved to second on an Abigail Tammen sacrifice bunt. Swanda then homered to put Tarleton ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first frame.
HSU cut the lead in half with a run in the top of the second inning with a run on two hits and an error to make it 2-1, but that would be the only run the Lady Reddies got in the nightcap.
Brittany Dumas walked to leadoff the bottom of the fifth before Eryn Freitas pinch ran for the catcher. Freitas stole second prior to a Victoria Kelly single to center that scored the pinch runner. Wessels then popped up to short before Tammen singled up the middle to score Kelly. Tammen stole second before an Arianna Rodriguez double down the left field line scored Tammen to give Tarleton a 5-1 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth with one out, Hannah Hancock pinch hit for Alexandria Orf and was hit by a pitch. Orf came back into the game to run, and Dumas doubled to left center to score the runner. Kelly singled through the left side to put runners on the corners. Wessels singled to load the bases before Tammen singled up the middle to score Dumas and put Tarleton ahead 7-1.
Katie Smith pitched all seven innings for Tarleton and allowed just one unearned run on six hits while striking out three batters.
