- Box Score: Game 1

- Box Score: Game 2

STEPHENVILLE – Tanner Pipkin drove a single up the middle of the diamond to score Samantha Swanda in walk-off fashion to lift the Tarleton TexAnns (5-4) to their first-ever win under the newly added lights at Tarleton's Softball Complex.
 
The TexAnns rallied from a 4-1 deficit in game two of Tuesday's doubleheader to claim the 5-4 win over St. Mary's (4-5) after falling in the opener in eight innings.
   
After clawing back from an early five-run deficit, Tarleton dropped its home opener 12-9 following a three-run home run in the top of eighth at Tarleton's Softball Complex Tuesday afternoon.
 
The afternoon got off to a rocky start as St. Mary's pieced together five runs on five hits and an error in the top of the first inning.
 
The TexAnns answered immediately by posting a four-spot in the bottom of the inning.
 
Arianna Rodriguez crossed the plate first for the TexAnns on a base hit by Katie Welborn. A Samanatha Swanda single and Shelby Tinklepaugh walk set up an RBI opportunity for Bailee Mauldin. With the bases loaded, Kelsey Latta drew a walk to bring the score to 5-3 and Tinklepaugh scored Tarleton's fourth run of the inning on a wild pitch.
 
After Swanda bounced back to retire the Rattlers in order in the second, Rodriguez led off the bottom of the second with her second home run of the season over the left field fence. Swanda gave her team – and herself – the lead with a home run over dead center just two batters later.
 
With Tarleton leading 6-5 in the top of the fourth, St. Mary's led off the inning with a double – which eventually came around to score and tie the game at 6-6.
 
After Mauldin reached on an error to begin the bottom of the fifth, the TexAnns loaded the bases with two outs and Rodriguez cleared them with a double to center field to give Tarleton a 9-6 lead.
 
St. Mary's fought back again in the next half inning by scoring three runs after starting the inning with a home run, a hit batter, and three straight walks.
 
In the extra inning, St. Mary's drove a two-strike pitch over the center field wall for the 3-run game-winning home run.
 
Randi Fentress took the loss for Tarleton, pitching three innings of relief allowing three runs on one hit while striking out four.
 
Rodriguez was 2-3 at the plate with two runs scored and four RBIs while Swanda and Mauldin also recorded multi-hit games.
   
In the nightcap – the first ever night cap in the TexAnns' 16-year history – Tarleton freshman Tanner Pipkin drove a base hit past the St. Mary's pitcher to drive in Swanda from second to polish off a three-run comeback and beat St. Mary's 5-4.
 
Welborn got the scoring started in the first inning with an RBI single to score Alexandria Orf from second with one away.
 
Tarleton pitcher Kirby Crow was in complete control through the first couple of innings, but St. Mary's took advantage of a rare two-on, one-out situation against the right-handed senior and took a 2-1 lead in the third. The Rattlers added a two-run home run in the top of the fifth for a 4-1 lead and their final runs of the night.
 
Trailing by three in the bottom of the sixth, Welborn singled to start the inning and Swanda ripped a double off the right-center field wall to put runners in scoring position for Latta with no one out.
 
The sophomore answered with an RBI base hit through the right side of the infield.
 
Mauldin stepped up and drove in Swanda on a shot down the third-base line. She advanced to second on a throw and Latta was gunned down at the plate trying to tie the game but the score remained 4-3.
 
Two batters later, pinch hitter Brittany Dumas did, however, knot the score with an infield single to the shortstop, scoring Mauldin from third.
 
After new pitcher, Fentress, set the Rattlers down in order in the top of the seventh, extra innings appeared inevitable.
 
Tarleton made a pair of quick outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Swanda kept the game alive with a walk. Latta was hit on the hand two pitches later to put runners on first and second with two away.
 
Then, Pipkin stepped in and sent a line drive past the pitcher to score the winning run.
 
“I'm just so proud of the way we battled,” said head coach Julie Mata. “The first game was not anything close to the type of softball we want to be playing, defensively. But to come out after a tough loss like that, trail late in the game and pull off this win says a lot about our girls.”
 
Fentress got the win with her perfect inning of work while Crow went six innings allowing four runs on five hits while striking out two.
 
“Kirby pitched great,” said Mata. “They got to her a little bit, but for the most part she was getting weak contact and working quickly. You really like to see that and it was just a great outing for Kirby.”
 
Five different TexAnns recorded RBIs while Orf, Welborn and Pipkin recorded multi-hit games.
 
For complete box scores, click the link above.
 
Tarleton will be in Canyon this weekend for the West Texas A&M Classic and will have a doubleheader against Regis College beginning at 12 p.m. Friday.