SAN ANTONIO – Tarleton State lost two games in Saturday's second day of the St. Mary's Invitational Tournament – falling to Oklahoma Christian and No. 4 St. Mary's.
 
"We're making some rookie mistakes right now, but I am so proud of the hustle and fight we continue to play with," said head coach Julie Mata. "I absolutely love coaching this team."
  
Tarleton State rallied back from a 6-3 deficit but gave up a pair of runs in the top of the sixth and was unable to pull off a second comeback effort as the TexAnns fell to Oklahoma Christian 8-7 in Saturday's first game.
 
The TexAnns got on the board first when Melody Mayse ripped an RBI single to plate Kaitlyn Thomas for the first run of the game. Erika Menchaca extended the lead to 3-0 when the sophomore punched a base hit into center field to bring home Katelyn Conlee and Mayse.
 
Oklahoma Christian answered with six runs in the top of the second on an RBI walk, an RBI single, a 2-RBI single and a 2-RBI double.
 
The 6-3 score held over the next inning and into the bottom of the fourth when Tarleton chipped away with a pair of runs on a 2-RBI double from Conlee to make it 6-5. The TexAnns continued to fight in the bottom of the fifth when Tarleton added the tying run on an Eagle error and took a 7-6 lead on a bases-loaded walk from Savannah Stech.
 
Oklahoma Christian retook the lead in the ensuing half inning on a bases-loaded hit by pitch and an RBI groundout. Tarleton went down in order in the sixth and could do nothing with a two-out walk from Stech in the seventh.
 
Conlee led the way at the dish with a 3-5 effort, including a run scored and two RBIs, while Stech, Mayse, Menchaca and Mikayla Stogsdill had the rest of Tarleton's seven hits.
 
Alyssa Ringhausen got the starting nod and lasted 1.2 innings, allowing six runs on five hits and two walks. She was replaced by Freyman, who took the loss after allowing just two runs on five hits and a walk with one K.
  
In the second game of Saturday's twin bill, Tarleton State dropped its second game to St. Mary's in as many days with a 6-2 loss to the Rattlers.
 
Tarleton got the scoring started right away with a bases-loaded hit by pitch from Nyka Wood and a bases-loaded walk from Delaney Wayland for an early 2-0 advantage after the top of the first.
 
St. Mary's would rally, however, with three in the second, two in the fifth and one in the sixth to earn their six runs. Of the six runs, only three were earned as the TexAnns committed four errors in the loss.
 
Conlee, Wayland and Lauren Powers had each of Tarleton's three hits in the games while Tarleton coaxed six walks at the plate, including two by Mayse. Thomas and Mayse each stole a base following their walks.
 
Freyman took the loss despite throwing all six innings after allowing six runs – only three earned – on seven hits and a walk with one strikeout.
 
Tarleton State will wrap up its time at the Rattler Invitational tomorrow at 12 p.m. against No. 13 Central Oklahoma.