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STEPHENVILLE - Tarleton made a change to their schedule last week and instead of traveling to Missouri this weekend, the TexAnns are playing at home for the first time in nearly a month with a Saturday doubleheader against Oklahoma Christian.
"We are excited to get on the field this weekend and it's a bonus to have it at home," said head coach Julie Mata. "With the bad weather in Missouri this week, it was disappointing to not be able to go and participate in such a good tournament, but I'm so glad we were able to pick up a doubleheader and just keep some continuity in our routine.
"Our goal this weekend is the same as it has been over the last several weeks, which is preparing for Lone Star Conference play," she added. "After losing some key players for the most unusual reasons I've seen in 17 years of coaching, it would be easy to accept a mediocre attitude but I feel like we are starting to define who we are with more detail and in a really good way. Our players are putting in lots of extra time on their own to be more consistent and more effective. I tell our players all the time how proud I am of who they are and how they play, but I mean it whole-heartedly. Having unselfish, hard working players is more valuable than gold. “
The first pitch is set for 12 p.m. at Tarleton Softball Complex.
AT A GLANCE
Record: Tarleton TexAnns 9-8 (0-0 LSC) • Oklahoma Christian 6-7 (2-0 Heartland)
Live Stats: The live stats link can be found on the Softball Schedule at TarletonSports.com.
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Saturday, Game 1: Randi Fentress, TSU (6-4, 2.10 ERA) vs Lindsy Moore, OCU (3-3, 6.23 ERA)
Saturday, Game 2: Brenna Hennan, TSU (3-3, 3-35 ERA) vs. Taylor Mosher, OCU (2-1, 5.06 ERA)
Last Time Out
Tarleton split the St. Mary's Round Robin last week after sweeping the opening day of action with wins over NAIA No. 2 Lubbock Christian and tournament-host St. Mary's. The TexAnns lost the final two games of the tournament Saturday with losses to the Lady Chaps and Rattlers.
Top notch pitching
In the Lone Star Conference, Tarleton boasts one of the top four pitching staffs after 13 games this season. The three-pitcher staff at Tarleton has pitched 110.0 innings allowing just 41 earned runs (2.61 ERA) and is one of just two teams with over 80 strikeouts (83). Randi Fentress leads the team in ERA (2.10) in 56.2 innings and in the top two in the Lone Star Conference in strikeouts with 40.
Milestone Watch
Over the first month of the season, Arianna Rodriguez has added to her career milestone marks. In addition to being the school's career home run leader, Rodriguez has also surpassed the all-time marks in RBIs and runs scored.
She is currently closing in on becoming the school's all-time career leader in hits - just 7 shy of passing Jennifer Maupin's mark - as well as doubles. She is eight 2-base hits away from passing Alicia Petersma as the school's all-time doubles hitter.
Series History
Prior to this weekend, Tarleton and Oklahoma Christian have only played one time in the TexAnns' 17-year history. The Eagles bested Tarleton 4-3 March 12, 1998 on a neutral site.
1 + 2 makes 3
The top two hitters in Tarleton's lineup also happen to be the Lone Star Conference leaders in triples after 17 games. Melody Mayse, a freshman from Grandview, and Rachel Brownlow, a sophomore transfer from San Jacinto College, have each hit three triples this season.
Up Next for Tarleton
The TexAnns will head to Canyon next Friday to begin Lone Star Conference action against West Texas A&M at Schaeffer Park.
