- Game 1 Box Score
- Game 2 Box Score
STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton TexAnns split with No. 1 Angelo State on Saturday in Lone Star Conference South Division action in Stephenville. The Rambelles won game one (7-4) before Tarleton claimed the nightcap (4-3).
The TexAnns (16-12-1, 6-4) won game two thanks to a home run by Samantha Swanda in the bottom of the fifth inning after ASU (27-3, 7-2) had tied the game at three in the top half of the frame.
“The way Angelo plays in late innings shows why they are ranked No. 1,” said Tarleton head coach Julie Mata. “I was proud of the way our girls stepped up in game two today and held onto the win.
“We suffered two gut-wrenching losses to a great team, but our girls proved they weren't going to quit in game three,” Mata continued. “Randi [Fentress] and Katie [Smith] combined for a good pitching performance to get us the victory.”
The first game was tied at four heading into the final inning, and ASU scored three runs to take the 7-4 lead, and eventually, the win.
The TexAnns will return to action next weekend at the LSC Crossover Tournament in San Angelo on April 1-3.
Angelo State 7, Tarleton 4
The Rambelles scored first in the top of the second when they had two runs on two hits and two errors to take the lead, but Tarleton got on the board in the bottom of the inning on an Arianna Rodriguez home run over the center field fence. Tarleton trailed 2-1.
ASU added two more runs in the top of the third inning on three hits and an error to make it 4-1.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Rodriguez walked to lead off the inning. With one out, Kesley Latta singled to left to put runners on first and second. With two outs, Victoria Kelly singled to score Rodriguez from second to make it 4-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, Wessels had a leadoff single to left before Swanda doubled down the left field line with one out to put two runners in scoring position. A Katie Welborn doubled tied the game at four runs apiece.
In the top of the seventh frame, ASU's DeeShanaLynn Tafiti walked with one out before Luz'Ce Baca pinch ran for the third baseman. Alix Dean struck out for the second out of the inning before Morgan Spearman walked to put two runners on. Then, Apo singled through the right side and advanced to second n the throw as Baca scored. Then Brittany Astle singled and advanced to third on a fielding error that scored two runs and put ASU ahead, 7-4.
In the bottom of the final inning, Swanda walked with one out, but Tarleton couldn't advance the runner.
Clarissa Molina got the win for the visitors after pitching the final 1.2 innings while Mary Kate McKay started the game and pitched 5.1 innings for the Rambelles.
Katie Smith started the game for the TexAnns in the circle and pitched 3.0 innings. She allowed four hits (three earned) on five hits with two strikeouts. Randi Fentress pitched 3.0 innings and gave up a walk and three hits with two strikeouts. Swanda got the loss after pitching the last inning and giving up three runs on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Tarleton 4, Angelo State 3
The TexAnns struck first in the nightcap when Rodriguez got an RBI double to right center to score Wessels who had singled to leadoff the inning and then stole second. Swanda singled before Rachel Dieterich got a walk to load the bases. A Latta single scored a run before a ground out by Welborn scored another run to put Tarleton ahead, 3-0.
In the top of the third inning with one out, Kaycee Taylor hit a home run over the right field fence to cut into the TexAnn lead and make it 3-1.
ASU threatened again in the top of the fourth frame with bases loaded and one out, but a lineout to Rodriguez at short ended the inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, ASU scored two runs on two hits and a walk and had the bases loaded when third baseman Dieterich pulled off a triple play by dropping the ball on a line drive, picking it up, tagging the runner on third, stepping on third for the force and then throwing out another runner who had returned to first. The game was tied at three runs each.
With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Swanda put a ball over the left field fence to return the lead to the TexAnns, 4-3.
In the top of the seventh with two outs and a runner on first, an error by Tarleton's second baseman Amy Gabbert on a throw to second for the third out extended the inning, but Elsa Apo flew to left, and the catch by Wessels ended the game with the TexAnn victory.
Katie Smith got the win after pitching the middle 1.1 innings. She allowed two runs on two hits with three walks while Fentress started and ended the game. She pitched 5.2 innings and gave up one run on two hits with five walks and two strikeouts.
Jessica Newsome started the game for the Rambelles and gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits with a walk in the first before being pulled. Clarissa Molina took the loss pitching 6.0 innings and giving up the decisive home run.
