- Game 1 Box Score
- Game 2 Box Score
ABILENE – The Tarleton TexAnn softball season came to an end in Abilene Saturday as the TexAnns needed to win two games to advance to the Lone Star Conference Championships, but the TexAnns split a LSC South Division doubleheader at Abilene Christian. Tarleton won the first game, 6-5, before dropping the nightcap, 15-6.
The TexAnns' season comes to a close at and 10-11 in division play. Tarleton finishes the season in fifth place in the division, and only the top four teams from each division advance to the postseason tournament.
The Tarleton bats tallied 17 hits in both games on Saturday, including three home runs in game two. Samantha Swanda had a three-run slam in the fifth while Katie Welborn had solo home runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
Tarleton finishes his season 21-25-1 overall.
Tarleton 6, Abilene Christian 5
The TexAnns jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning as Rebecca Wessels reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. Arianna Rodriguez singled up the middle to put runners on the corners before she stole second and Wessels stole home. Welborn then singled to center to score Rodriguez before Alexandria Orf singled to left field later in the inning to score Amy Gabbert. Tarleton led, 3-0.
Tarleton added to its total in the top of the third when Swanda singled through the left side and Welborn singled up the middle. Marcie Rodriguez pinch ran for Welborn before Gabbert singled on a bunt to load the bases. Kelsey Latta then doubled to left center to score two runs. With two outs on the board, Gabbert stole home to make it 6-0 TexAnns.
The Wildcats scored two runs on four hits with an error in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to four runs, 6-2.
ACU added two more runs on a hit and two errors in the bottom of the sixth to make it 6-4 before a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh made it 6-5. However, Tarleton got the third out and the victory.
Katie Smith (7-6) pitched the entire game for Tarleton and tallied the win. She allowed five runs (two earned) on 10 hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Shelby Hall started the game for the Wildcats and took the loss after pitching 2.0 innings and allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits with a strikeout. Peyton Mosley came on in relief and pitched 5.0 innings and allowed just one hit and a walk with three strikeouts.
Abilene Christian 15, Tarleton 6 (six innings)
The TexAnns jumped ahead early in game two on Saturday when Wessels walked to leadoff the first inning before Arianna Rodriguez doubled through the left side to give Tarleton a 1-0 advantage.
ACU then scored three runs on two hits and an error in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead, 3-1.
The Wildcats added to their advantage with six runs on five hits and two errors in the bottom of the third frame to make it 9-1 in favor of the home team.
Welborn homered to start off the fourth inning to cut into the lead and make it 9-2. However, ACU tallied two more runs on three hits in the bottom of the frame to increase its lead to 11-2.
With one out in the top of the fifth, Wessels singled to left before Arianna Rodriguez singled and advanced to second on the throw to third as Wessels was safe at the bag. Swanda then homered to left field to score all three runs. Welbron then hit her second solo home run of the game to cut the lead to six runs, 11-5.
In the bottom of the fifth frame, the Wildcats' scored one run on a single before Megan Brigance homered to left center to give ACU the run-rule victory.
Smith pitched all 4.2 innings for Tarleton as she allowed 15 runs (nine earned) on 14 hits. Brittany Rexroat got the win and pitched 4.1 innings. She gave up six runs on eight hits with a walk. Mosely pitched 0.2 innings and recorded a strikeout.
