- Box Score
ABILENE – The Tarleton TexAnn softball team dropped an important Lone Star Conference South Division game at Abilene Christian on Friday, 11-8.
The TexAnns will now have to sweep a Saturday doubleheader at Wells Field in Abilene to reach the LSC Championship tournament as the TexAnns are 9-10 in division play and the Wildcats are 10-9. If Tarleton wins both games and Texas Woman's loses one of its games tomorrow against Angelo State after the Pioneers defeated the Rambelles on Friday 5-4, the TexAnns will advance to the postseason.
Tarleton (21-24-1) jumped out to the early lead over ACU (27-26) when Katie Welborn doubled to right center to leadoff the top of the second inning. Marcie Rodriguez pinch ran for Welborn and scored when Kelsey Latta doubled to right center to put the TexAnns ahead, 1-0.
In the bottom of the inning, however, the Wildcats scored four runs on three hits, including back-to-back runs batted in doubles. ACU led 4-1 after two innings.
In the bottom of the fourth, the home team added to its total by scoring two runs on four hits to make the score 6-1.
However, the TexAnns scored in each of the next three innings. In the top of the fifth, Brittany Dumas walked to start the inning before Eryn Freitas came in to pinch run. Abigail Tammen singled up the middle before Alexandria Orf doubled to left field to score both runners though she was thrown out at second. Tarleton trailed 6-3.
ACU would add on another run in the bottom of the inning on a hit and an error to make it 7-3, but Tarleton would strike again.
In the top of the sixth, Welborn lead the inning off with a walk before Latta reached on a fielder's choice as Welborn moved to second on an error by the third baseman. Amy Gabbert singled to center field to load the bases before Dumas reached on a fielder's choice that scored Welborn. Latta also scored on the play thank to an error by the first baseman. Orf tripled to right center to score Dumas to cut the score to 7-6.
ACU then scored four runs on two hits and an error in the bottom of the sixth to make it 11-6 heading into the top of the seventh.
Arianna Rodriguez doubled to right center to leadoff the inning before Samantha Swanda homered to left center. Two straight line outs and a fly out ended the game as the TexAnns fell 11-8.
Swanda started the game and pitched 4.0 innings throughout the contest and gave up 10 runs (eight earned) on eight hits and six walks. She struck out three. Fentress provided middle relief for the TexAnns and gave up one run on two hits with a walk and a strikeout in 2.0 innings.
Brittany Rexroat got the win for the Wildcats and pitched 5.2 innings allowing six runs (three earned) on eight hits with two walks and a strikeout. Peyton Mosely pitched 1.1 innings and allowed two runs on two hits.
The two teams will play Saturday's doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
