STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton's offense exploded for 12 runs in support of
Alyssa Ringhausen's complete game pitching effort to lift the TexAnns to their first conference win of the season Friday.
"I'm so proud of the way we were able to get our focus back after a tough loss in the first game," said head coach
Julie Mata. "Alyssa was fantastic in the circle and
Avery Mullendore gave us some great at bats in the bottom of the order, but mostly I can't say enough about our senior leaders who did a great job of getting us regrouped and ready to go in the second game."
Game 1: Texas Woman's 7, No. 25 Tarleton 1
Texas Woman's came into Stephenville swinging out of the gates by putting up seven runs in the first four innings to hand Tarleton its fifth straight loss.
The Pioneers got a three-run home run in the first inning before tacking on one more in the second and third innings each. After Tarleton got in the board in the bottom of the third, Texas Woman's scored its final runs in the fourth before Tarleton's
Haley Freyman bounced back to keep the Pioneers in check over the final three innings.
Tarleton's lone run came on a two-out error in the bottom of the third to bring home
Savannah Stech. The TexAnns mustered just four hits in the series opener, including one each from
Melody Mayse,
Katelyn Conlee,
Rebeka Allen, and
Lauren Powers.
Game 2: No. 25 Tarleton 12, Texas Woman's 3 (5)
In the nightcap, Tarleton pounded on the Pioneer pitching staff to the tune of 12 runs on eight hits to snap the skid and deliever the TexAnns' first league win of the season.
After Texas Woman's scored first with one in the opening inning, Tarleton wasted no time by pouring on runs with a seven spot in the bottom of the first.
Tarleton tied the game when Allen was walked with the bases loaded and then
Shelby Hedrick was hit the next pitch with the bases still loaded to put Tarleton on top 2-1 in the first. Ringhausen helped her own cause by driving a two-run double to straight away center before Mullendore followed suit with a two-run double of her own for a 6-1 Tarleton lead.
Melody Mayse drove in the final run of the inning with an RBI single to put Tarleton on top 7-1 after one.
The Pioneers score one each in the second and third, but Tarleton broke the game wide open with five runs in the bottom of the third.
Mullendore came in to score on an infield single from Mayse before Allen drew an RBI hit by pitch with the bases loaded.
Shelby Hedrick immediately unloaded the bases with a two-RBI single into left field before Mullendore capped off the night with her third RBI of game with a single into center.
Ringhausen shut down the Pioneers in the final two innings to end the game early. The junior from Coppell threw all five innings, allowing three runs – two earned – on five hits and three walks.
Mayse, Hedrick, and Mullendore had two hits each while Conlee and Ringhausen had the rest of Tarleton's eight hits. Hedrick and Mullendore had three RBIs each.
Tarleton and Texas Woman's will wrap up the series with two more games tomorrow beginning at 2 p.m. at the Tarleton Softball Complex.
