Box Score CANYON – A six-run second inning proved too much to overcome as the TexAnns fell 11-5 to Midwestern State in the opening round of the Lone Star Conference Championship Tournament.
 
Tarleton got the scoring started in the opening frame with a two-out, RBI double off the right-centerfield wall to plate Arianna Rodriguez – who was hit by the previous pitch – from first base to put the TexAnns up 1-0 after one.
 
After the Mustangs scored a pair in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead, Tarleton responded with a sacrifice fly from RBI pinch-hitter Tanner Pipkin to plate Randi Fentress.
 
The Mustangs pulled away in the bottom of the second with six runs to lead 8-2.
 
Despite trailing by six, Tarleton answered back with its biggest offensive inning of the afternoon – a three-run job in the top of the third.
 
Kelsey Latta got the TexAnns started in the top of the inning with a monster blast on top of the Schaeffer Park hitting cage in deep left field.
 
Arianna Rodriguez and Bailee Mauldin kept things going with back-to-back line drive singles. The two TexAnns came around to score on an RBI groundout by Randi Fentress and an error during the at-bat of Amber Clifford to cut the deficit to 8-5.
 
After MSU added one more to make it 9-5, Tarleton had a chance to make some noise in the fifth with runners on second and third with one-out. Clifford ripped a line drive back at the pitcher, who snagged it for the out and doubled off the runner at third on a questionable decision.
 
Midwestern added two more in the sixth to make it 11-5 as the TexAnns couldn't mount a comeback.
 
Mauldin led the team offensively with a 3-4 day while Latta (2-4), Rodriguez (1-3) and Courtney Vroman (1-3) had the other hits for Tarleton.
 
Tarleton is currently ranked No. 10 in the South Central Regional rankings and will await the final rankings to see if the season continues.