- Game 1 Box Score
- Game 2 Box Score
STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton TexAnn softball team dropped a Lone Star Conference South Division doubleheader on Friday to No. 23 West Texas A&M, 4-3 and 11-6.
Tarleton (20-23-1, 8-9) took the early in game one, but could not hang on to the lead. The Lady Buffaloes (36-12, 11-6) jumped out early in the nightcap and never relinquished the lead. An error in the top of the sixth led to four unearned runs. However, the TexAnns did not back down, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh on a three-run home run by Rebecca Wessels and a solo shot by Samantha Swanda. Two strikeouts ended the TexAnns run in the last frame.
The two teams will return to action on Saturday, April 23 with the final game of the three-game series scheduled for noon at the Tarleton Softball Complex.
Tarleton will celebrate Senior Day after the game and then the TexAnns will sign autographs for all fans. Kids 13-and-under will receive a free Easter surprise.
West Texas A&M 4, Tarleton 3
The TexAnns jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Rebecca Wessels singled up the middle to start the inning before stealing second. She went to third when Arianna Rodriguez struck out and ran to first when the catcher dropped the third strike. Samantha Swanda then singled up the middle to score the game's first run as Tarleton led, 1-0.
In the top of the fourth, West Texas A&M scored two runs on three hits to take a 2-1 lead, but Tarleton struck back in the bottom of the inning.
With two outs, Kelsey Latta doubled to left center before Amy Gabbert singled to short. The shortstop threw the ball to first despite the quick Gabbert getting to the bag before the ball, but the throw was wide, and Latta scored to tie the game at two runs apiece. Gabbert tried to go to second on the error, but she slid past the bag and was called out on the tag.
In the top of the fifth frame, the Lady Buffaloes added two runs on two hits to take a 4-2 advantage.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Latta singled through the left side to open the frame before moving to second on a ground out by Gabbert. With two outs and Brittany Dumas pinch hitting, Latta (who moved to third on a dropped strikeout by the catcher against Alexandria Orf) scored on a wild pitch. Dumas then ground out to the pitcher to end the game. Tarleton fell, 4-3.
Marci Womack got the win for the visitors with a complete game. She allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
Randi Fentress took the loss for Tarleton and pitched all seven innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits with six walks and four strikeouts.
West Texas A&M 11, Tarleton 6
The Lady Buffs scored first in the nightcap, taking a 2-0 lead on two hits in the top of the first inning.
WTAMU added three runs in the top of the fifth frame on a three-run homerun by Alyssa Lemos over the left field fence to make it 5-0 visitors.
The TexAnns got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Victory Kelly swung and missed on strike three, but the catcher dropped the strike and Kelly was safe at first. Two pitches later, Dumas then nailed a pitch over the left field fence to cut the lead to three (5-2).
With two outs and runners on second and third in the top of the sixth, a fly ball by Lemos to centerfield was dropped, and the two runners scored. The Lady Buffs added two more unearned runs to take a 9-2 lead. Katie Smith relieved Swanda in the circle for the TexAnns and got the final out of the inning.
In the top of the seventh, the Lady Buffs scored two more runs on two hits after Tarleton walked two runners home with the bases loaded. WTAMU led 11-2.
In the bottom of the final frame, Kelly had a leadoff single to left before Dumas singled up the middle. Rebecca Wessels then homered to left field to cut the lead to 11-5. Then, with one out Swanda hit a single-run homerun over the left field fence to make it 11-6. Two strikeouts ended the inning as winning pitcher Shelbey Cockrell recorded 15 strikeouts on the day.
Cockrell (18-6) allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits with one walk.
Swanda took the loss to fall to 10-12 on the season. She pitched the first 5.2 innings and allowed nine runs (four earned) on 10 hits with three walks and 11 strikeouts. Smith pitched 0.1 innings and allowed two runs on two hits with three walks. Kirby Crow pitched 1.0 innings and recorded two strikeouts.
