Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton State dropped the first two games of the Rattler Invitational Saturday afternoon as they were topped 8-0 in five by Central Oklahoma and 6-4 by Western Oregon.
   
In the tournament opener, a rough first inning was too much for Tarleton to overcome as they were shutout for the second consecutive game – this time by the reigning NCAA Division II National Champion, Central Oklahoma.
 
After the TexAnns went down in order to open the game, the Bronchos poured in six runs in the bottom of the first inning. The first three runs came in on a pair of RBI singles and a Tarleton error before the big blast of the inning came on a three-run homer with one away to make it 6-0 Bronchos.
 
The TexAnns went three-up, three down in the top of the second and Central Oklahoma took advantage by adding one more in the second on an RBI single to right field for a 7-0 UCO lead.
 
Tarleton made some noise in the top of the third when they loaded the bases with back-to-back singles from Kendra Mendoza and Erika Menchaca and a walk by Randi Fentress, but a fielder's choice grounder to third that ended with Mendoza being thrown out at home and then back-to-back swinging strikeouts ended the TexAnn threat.
 
Both teams were held scoreless in the third and fourth innings but Central Oklahoma scored the final run in the bottom of the fifth to end the game early with a walk-off RBI fielder's choice.
 
Fentress pitched all 4.1 innings and took the loss after allowing eight runs – six earned – on 12 hits and four walks to go along with five strikeouts.
 
Meanwhile, the Tarleton offense and defense struggled as well. The back-to-back singles to lead off the third were the only two hits of the day for the TexAnn offense while the defense surrendered two unearned runs on three errors.
   
In the final game of the day for the TexAnns, it was once again an early lead that proved to be too much to overcome as Western Oregon got out to a 6-0 lead before Tarleton started scoring and, despite scoring the final four runs of the game, Tarleton fell 6-4.
 
Western Oregon struck first in the second inning with an RBI double to take a 1-0 lead and added to it in the next inning with a three-spot in the third on a bases loaded walk and a 2-RBI single for a 4-0 lead. They score their final two runs in the top of the fourth on a passed ball and an RBI single to left center for the 6-0 advantage.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, however, the Tarleton offense came to life and ended their run of 16 consecutive scoreless innings.
 
After two singles, a stolen base and an error allowed Tarleton to load the bases with one away, Melody Mayse put Tarleton on the board with an RBI single through the right side. Bailee Mauldin followed suit with a base hit into right field that plated a pair, making it a 6-3 game after four.
 
After Fentress posted goose eggs in the fifth and sixth innings, Tarleton tacked on another run in the sixth on another RBI single by Mauldin to plate Mikayla Stogsdill from second. The TexAnns couldn't add anymore, however, as 6-4 turned out to be the final.
 
Brenna Hennan took the loss after pitching three innings, allowing all six runs – only four earned – on seven hits, three walks and two strikeouts. Fentress pitched the final four innings of relief and allowed no runs on just one hit and struck out seven.
 
Tarleton had nine hits against the Wolves with Mauldin and Kelsey Latta recording two hits each. Stogsdill, Mayse, Amber Clifford, Menchaca and Eryn Freitas had the rest of Tarleton's hits.
 
The TexAnns will be back in action tomorrow in San Antonio against Oklahoma Christian and Rogers State, beginning at noon.