Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PORTALES, N.M. – Bailee Mauldin scored two runs and drove in five for Tarleton to help the TexAnns earn win in the second game of Friday's doubleheader and split the opening pair of games against Eastern New Mexico.
   
After a tough first inning, Tarleton found itself playing catch up in the opening game of Friday's doubleheader against Eastern New Mexico as the TexAnns ultimately fell to the Zias 8-6.
 
Eastern New Mexico got to Tarleton starter Randi Fentress early as the first three batters of the game reached with the first run of the game coming in on an RBI double to right field. They continued to pile it on with a one-out 2-RBI single to right and a two-out RBI single up the middle after an error prolonged the inning.
 
Trailing 4-0 in the top of the second, Tarleton responded with a three spot.
 
McKaylee Pittman led off the inning with a single to the left side and, after a pop out, came around to score with Randi Fentress cranked her first career home run over the left field wall. The TexAnns added one more on a bases loaded RBI fielder's choice from Arianna Rodriguez to make it a 4-3 game.
 
The Zias answered with one more in the bottom of the second on an RBI single to right field and three more runs in the bottom of the third on a bases loaded walk and a 2-RBI single up the middle to extend the ENMU lead to 8-3 after three.
 
Tarleton clawed back with one in the fourth on a Zia error and two in the fifth on sacrifice flies from Amber Clifford and Kelsey Latta but could not complete the comeback as Eastern New Mexico pitched shutouts in the sixth and seventh.
 
Randi Fentress suffered the loss after pitching just one inning allowing six hits and five runs – four earned. Brenna Hennan pitched the final five innings of relief allowing three runs on five hits and two walks.
 
Tarleton managed nine hits on the afternoon with Melody Mayse (2-4), Rodriguez (2-3) and Fentress (2-4) recorded multi-hit games while Pittman, Courtney Vroman and Latta had one hit each.
   
In the second game of the twin bill, Tarleton responded to its game one loss by riding a five-run first inning to an 11-5 victory over the Zias in the second contest Friday.
 
The TexAnns struck early and often, beginning with a leadoff walk by Mayse.
 
Mayse opened the game with a walk and scored the first run on an RBI double by Rodriguez. The second and third runs came across the plate when Bailee Mauldn plated a pair on a 2-RBI double on the first pitch she saw to put Tarleton up 3-0.
 
The TexAnns continued the first-inning onslaught with an RBI double from Fentress to plate Mauldin and an RBI single from Clifford to plate Fentress, putting Tarleton up 5-0 and chasing ENMU starter Mary Jo Granger after just one-third of an inning.
 
Tarleton added to its lead in the next inning when Mayse and Rachel Browlow opened the inning with back-to-back singles and a double steal before Pittman drove them both in for a 2-RBI single and a 7-0 lead.
 
The Zias struck for four in the bottom of the third to cut the Tarleton lead to just 7-4, but the TexAnns answered right back with a two-run homer from Mauldin in the fourth.
 
After Eastern New Mexico scored their last run of the game in the bottom of the fourth, Tarleton put the game away with two more in the sixth on a solo bomb from Mayse and an RBI double by Mauldin.
 
For the game, Mauldin led the way for Tarleton going 3-4 with two runs scored and five RBIs.
 
“As a team, we had a much better approach at the plate in game two,” said Tarleton head coach Julie Mata. “We also played better defensively. Bailee picked us up offensively with some big at bats.”
 
Mayse (2-3), Rodriguez (2-3) and Clifford (2-4) each recorded multi-hit games while Brownlow, Pittman and Fentress had the rest of Tarleton's 12 total hits.
 
The TexAnns and Zias will play the rubber game at 1 p.m. tomorrow from Zia Field in Portales, N.M.