STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton stranded 13 runners on base and committed four errors in the field as the TexAnns fell to Texas A&M-Commerce in the home and Lone Star Conference opener at the Tarleton Softball Complex Friday night.
 
"You can't expect to win in the Lone Star Conference when you strand as many runners as we did tonight and don't play solid defense," said head coach Mark Cumpian. "We just need to put this out of our mind and come back tomorrow with a new focus."
 
The offensive struggles started right away when the TexAnns left the bases loaded in the bottom of the first – which would be the first of two times Tarleton left the bags full without coming away with a run on the night. The game stayed in a scoreless tie until Commerce broke through with a two-spot in the third and two unearned runs in the fourth to a 4-0 lead.
 
Tarleton cashed in for the only time in the bottom of the fourth when Marisa Flores dropped a one-out double down the right field line and Maddie Quintanar moved her to third with a single. The freshman outfielder took second on the throw home that held Flores at third, bringing up Savannah Stech with one away and runners in scoring position.
 
The senior third baseman ripped an RBI single into right to plate Flores for Tarleton's only mark in the run column.
 
Outside of the third and fourth inning, Haley Freyman posted goose eggs on the board as she went the distance allowing four runs – two earned – on eight hits, two walks, and three strikeouts.
 
The Tarleton offense matched Commerce's eight hits on the night, led by a three-hit effort from Quintanar and a two-hit night from Stech. Amanda Conner, Avery Mullendore, and Flores each had one base hit for Tarleton to round out the offense.
 
Tarleton will look to get back in the win column in tomorrow's 1 p.m. doubleheader against the Lions in Stephenville.