Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton didn't need the full seven innings to handle Cameron in either game of Thursday night's doubleheader as the TexAnns combined to outscore the Aggies 27-8 en route to a day one sweep.
 
“Our bats alive today, and that's a good sign,” said Tarleton head coach Julie Mata. “We did the little things right tonight. We moved runners over, didn't leave them on base and just executed really well. I'm really proud of the way we handled ourselves at the plate today.”
   
An eight-run first inning paved the way for a short game in the opener of Thursday's doubleheader against Cameron as the TexAnns finished off the Aggies 14-3 in five innings.
 
Cameron struck first in the game, notching one unearned run after an error extended the inning.
 
Tarleton answered right back, however, with their biggest inning of the season by scoring eight runs – seven unearned – to take a commanding lead.
 
With two-outs and Melody Mayse on second, Bailee Mauldin laced a single to left to plate the leadoff hitter for the only earned run of the inning.
 
After McKaylee Pittman was hit by a pitch, an error by the second baseman opened the flood gates as both Mauldin and Pittman came in to score.
 
The biggest blow of the inning came two batters later when Amber Clifford cranked a three-run homer to dead center, putting Tarleton up 6-0. Tarleton added two more on an RBI triple by Mayse, who then came in on a wild pitch.
 
Cameron scored another unearned run in the second, but Tarleton answered right back with a four-spot to put the deficit at double figures. The TexAnns scored four runs on three hits and an error in the second.
 
Pittman added one more with an RBI double in the third and Tarleton got another unearned off Cameron's third error of the game in the fifth to make it 14-2. Cameron added its final run in the top of the fifth.
 
Randi Fentress earned the win, pitching five innings allowing three runs – one earned – on eight hits and two walks with just one strikeout.
 
Tarleton's offense tallied 10 hits with Rodriguez and Mauldin each going 2-3. Mayse, Rachel Brownlow, Pittman, Courtney Vroman and Clifford had the other hits.
   
Led by a two-homer game from Mauldin, Tarleton scored in every inning and slugged its way to a 13-5 win over the Aggies in the nightcap of the twin bill.
 
The Aggies got the Tarleton starter Brenna Hennan early, posting two runs off the sophomore in the opening frame on an RBI double and an RBI single.
 
Tarleton wasted no time in striking back, though, as Pittman belted a three-run blast to left field to put the TexAnns on top 3-2.
 
The TexAnns added one run each over the next three innings to extend the lead to 6-2, scoring twice on RBI hits from Mayse and once on a solo blast from Mauldin.
 
Tarleton added three more in the fifth on an RBI double from Clifford and a 2-RBI triple from Mayse to bring the TexAnns within one run of ending the game after five innings.
 
Cameron tacked on three more of its own in the ensuing half inning with a pinch hit three-run homer to left center field, bringing the score to 9-5.
 
The TexAnns put the game away in the bottom of the sixth, beginning with back-to-back solo bombs by Rodriguez and Mauldin to lead off the inning. Tarleton ended the game after a bases loaded sacrifice fly from pinch hitter Hannah Hancock and a walk off wild pitch.
 
Hennan recorded her ninth win of the season after going all six innings allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts.
 
Mayse and Clifford each went 3-4 at the dish while Mayse (4), Pittman (3), Mauldin (2) each recorded multiple RBIs on the night. Rodriguez (2-3), Mauldin (2-3), Pittman (1-3), Vroman (1-4) and Latta (1-2) had the rest of Tarleton's 13 hits in the game.
 
The TexAnns will go for the sweep of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the TSU Softball Complex.