GRAND PRAIRIE – Tarleton led in all but two innings Saturday afternoon as the TexAnns split a pair of games with Colorado Christian and Oklahoma Panhandle on the second day of the North Texas Softball Bash at Jennifer McFalls Park.
Game 1: Tarleton 8, Colorado Christian 3
Tarleton rode the wave of a four-run first inning to an 8-3 win over Colorado Christian to claim its sixth win of the young season Saturday.
After the Cougars took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Tarleton tied things up when
Maddie Quintanar led things off with a bunt single and stole second base before coming around to score on a an error by the second baseman. The TexAnns loaded up the bases before
Megan Durante cashed in a pair with a two-RBI double for a 3-0 Tarleton lead.
Marisa Flores came up with another run on an RBI single two batters later for a 4-0 lead.
Quintanar sparked another offensive inning in the second with a one-out single and stolen base before coming around for a 5-1 lead on an RBI single from
Amanda Conner.
The teams shared a scoreless third and fourth inning before Colorado Christian cut into the Tarleton lead with one in the fifth, but the TexAnns answered right back with one in their half of the fifth on a CCU error and two in the sixth – an RBI single by
Robyn Gajdica and and RBI fielder's choice from Stech – for Tarleton's final runs of the game.
Haley Freyman earned in the win in the circle with a complete game, over which she allowed three runs – one earned – on seven hits and struck out a pair. Flores was a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish while Quintanar also boasted a multi-hit performance with two. Gajdica, Stech, Wood, Conner, and Durante rounded out the offense with one hit each.
Game 2: Oklahoma Panhandle 7, Tarleton 6
Tarleton allowed Oklahoma Panhandle to score four unanswered runs, including the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, against them Saturday evening en route to a split.
Quintanar got the TexAnn offense rolling early as the freshman ripped a double before coming home to score Tarleton's first run of the game. Four batters later,
Avery Mullendore extended the lead to 2-0 with an RBI single of her own. The TexAnns went for another two-spot in the second when Stech drove one in with an RBI fielder's choice and a Conner double down the left field line for a 4-0 lead after two.
Panhandle scored three in the third before the TexAnns tacked on two runs in the fourth with a two-RBI single by Stech.
Meanwhile, the Aggies found their stride. Oklahoma Panhandle scored one in the fifth, two in the sixth, and one in the seventh while Tarleton was trying tack on more runs – to no avail – over the final three innings.
Jordan Withrow earned the start and struck out seven in the first 2.2 innings before
Alyssa Ringhausen came on in relief of the freshman to throw 3.1 innings of work before giving way to Kayleigh Willis, who took the tough-luck loss.
Quintanar, Flores, and Mullendore each boasted a two-hit performance while Stech, Conner, and Thomas each had one. Stech also had a three-RBI game while Quintanar scored three times.
The TexAnns will return to action with a doubleheader against Northwestern Oklahoma and Regis tomorrow, beginning at 12:30 p.m.
