- Box Score

DENTON – Tarleton (14-7) wrapped up an exhausting weekend of softball Sunday by dropping the final game of the Texas Woman's Best Western Premier Spring Fling by the score of 3-1 to St. Edward's.
 
After the second game of the first day wrapped up late Friday night, the TexAnns played an early extra inning game Saturday and went deep into the night with an 11-inning affair against Central Missouri.
 
In the final game, Tarleton battled yet again but were unable to pull out the win as a two-RBI single in the sixth proved to be the difference in the game.
 
Tarleton had the first real scoring chance of the game in the bottom of the second when Bailee Mauldin drew a one-out walk and Shelby Tinklepaugh doubled with two away, but the TexAnns could do nothing else in the inning.
 
While the TexAnn offense tried to crack SEU's Sara DeBrow, the Hilltopper hitters had a tough task in getting to Samantha Swanda.
 
The senior from Apache was in complete control over the first four innings, allowing just four base runners on three scattered singles and an error. Amber Sotelo helped keep the runners to a minimum by gunning down the first of two attempted base stealers in the third inning.
 
St. Edward's finally broke through in the fifth with a one-out bases loaded walk. The rally was ended when Swanda bounced back to get a swinging strikeout and Sotelo picked off the runner at third.
 
A leadoff single and an error, followed by a double steal, set up SEU for a two-RBI single in the sixth inning, but Swanda rallied to get three straight outs – two on strikeouts – to keep the Hilltoppers from earning any more.
 
Tarleton broke up the shutout in the bottom of the seventh when Mauldin hit a one-out double to center and advanced to third on an error by the centerfielder. Eryn Freitas pinch ran for Mauldin and came in to score on a single by Courtney Vroman.
 
Vroman advanced to second, but was stranded as the Hilltoppers went on to the win.
 
Swanda pitched 6.1 innings allowing three runs – two earned – on eight hits while striking out six. Randi Fentress came in to get the final two outs.
 
For the tournament, Tarleton pitchers were 3-2 with a combined 1.50 ERA, allowing eight earned runs over 37.1 innings with 42 strikeouts. Fentress was 2-1 with a 0.78 ERA and 24 strikeouts in four appearances
 
Against SEU, Tarleton managed just three base hits for the night – doubles by Mauldin and Tinklepaugh and the RBI single by Vroman. Arianna Rodriguez and Mauldin also reached via walk.
 
For the tournament, Mauldin was 6-16 (.375) with three extra-base hits and five RBIs while Rodriguez also hit over .300 by going 7-19 (.368) with two doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs.
 
Tarleton will begin Lone Star Conference play this weekend when they host No. 5 West Texas A&M for a 5 p.m. doubleheader at Tarleton Softball Complex.