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Box Score 2
STEPHENVILLE - If one were using Twitter to describe the Tarleton pitching performances Saturday afternoon, it may read something like: #dominate.
TexAnn pitchers Randi Fentress and Brenna Hennan combined to allow just eight hits and two runs with 20 strikeouts over 14 innings to lead Tarleton to a doubleheader sweep of Oklahoma Christian Saturday afternoon.
Tarleton 6, Oklahoma Christian 2
Fentress flirted with a perfect game in the first game and Amber Clifford's grand slam in the sixth propelled the TexAnns to a 6-2 win over the Eagles in the opener.
While Fentress stayed untouchable in the circle, Tarleton got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the second.
Tanner Pipkin drew a leadoff walk and was then pinch-ran for by Eryn Freitas.
After two quick outs, Freitas swiped second base and then came around to score on a hard hit ground ball by Kelsey Latta past the third baseman. Latta was thrown out at second trying to stretch the hit to a double.
The Tarleton junior pitcher continued to roll through the Oklahoma Christian lineup, taking her perfecto bid to 5 2/3 innings.
With two away in the sixth, a third strike went to the backstop allowing the first runner of the game to reach. She came around to score on the next pitch when a blooper into shallow left fell just out of reach of a diving Rachel Brownlow.
Tarleton's offense answered the call in the bottom of the inning when Fentress led off with a walk.
Lauren Grisham, who pinch ran for Fentress, stole second and Shelby Tinklepaugh followed up with a bunt base hit and a stolen base to give Tarleton runners at second and third with no one out.
After a strikeout, Brownlow singled to the shortstop to load the bases. Tarleton appeared in jeopardy of leaving them loaded after a quick second out of the inning.
Pipkin drew another walk to bring home Grisham and set up the big blow by Clifford down the left field line.
The Eagles added one more in the seventh on a double and a single, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Tarleton lead.
Fentress earned the complete game win allowing two runs on three hits and no walks with 10 strikeouts on just 92 pitches.
Tarleton could muster only four hits of their own, with Brownlow (1B), Latta (1B), Tinklepaugh (1B) and Clifford (GS) earning the base knocks.
Tarleton 7, Oklahoma Christian 0
In the second game, Brenna Hennan was masterful as well tossing a complete game shutout and amassing 10 strikeouts in a 7-0 win over the Eagles.
The Tarleton offense opened their half of the first with a quick two-spot to give Hennan the last lead she would need.
After two singles and two stolen bases - one of each from Melody Mayse and Arianna Rodriguez - and a walk by Courtney Vroman, Latta drove home Mayse and Rodriguez with a two-out base hit up the middle.
Brownlow came in to score in the third - following a leadoff single and a stolen base - when Rodriguez laced a line drive to left field, giving Tarleton a 3-0 advantage after three.
After being blanked in the fourth, Tarleton continued to pour on the runs in the fifth and sixth.
Following a Rodriguez double to the right center gap, Vroman cleared the bases with a long ball over the left center field wall to put the TexAnns up 5-0. Tarleton added two more in the sixth on a sacrifice fly and an illegal pitch with a runner at third.
Hennan kept the Eagles hitters off balance through all seven innings, earning the complete game win allowing just five hits and four walks with the 10 K's on 113 pitches.
Tarleton managed nine hits in the finale with Rodriguez (3-3) and Bailee Mauldin (2-3) earning multihit games. Mayse, Brownlow, Vroman and Latta had the other hits.
The TexAnns will begin Lone Star Conference action next weekend with a trip to No. 3 West Texas A&M Friday and Saturday.