BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Tarleton played two quality opponents on Friday in Bryan-College Station, Texas, dropping the first in walkoff fashion to Michigan State and the second in five innings to Texas A&M.
 
In the first game, the Texans (0-3, 0-0 WAC) scored three times in the seventh inning to tie the Spartans (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten) before losing on a walk-off single 5-4. In the nightcap, Texas A&M (3-0, 0-0 SEC) won 10-0 in five innings, as the Aggies allowed just one hit, which came in the fifth.
 
Michigan State 5, Tarleton 4
Tarleton outhit Michigan State 9-6 and had no errors to the Spartans' two, but they couldn't finish their seventh inning rally to capture the win. Kelci Hill had the best game at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Katy Schaefer, hitting behind her in the cleanup spot, went 1-for-3 with 2 RBI. Morgan Medford reached base three times, scoring two runs, batting 2-for-3 with a walk. Kayla Wallace, Tristyn Trull and MacKenzie Peterson each added a hit as well.
 
The Texans started their scoring early, taking advantage of a game-opening Medford walk. After Hill moved her into scoring position with a single, Schaefer knocked her in to make it 1-0 Tarleton in the top half of the first.
 
Kennedy Ferguson made her season debut in the circle and faced early trouble. After giving back the favor by walking Michigan State's first batter, Ferguson responded with a strikeout and fielder's choice. The Spartans' Sydney Doloszycki singled in the tying run with two outs and two women on, before Ferguson ended the threat with another strikeout.
 
The Spartans scored two in the second to take a 3-1 lead. In the third, Tarleton left fielder Wallace made a diving over the shoulder grab to save a run, and potentially more, with a Spartan on second and two outs, to end the scoreless inning. In the fourth, Michigan State added one more to go up 4-1, ending Ferguson's day at 3.0 IP, four earned runs on four hits and three walks, a hit by pitch and three strikeouts. Tristan Bridges entered and pitched three straight innings of scoreless softball to keep Tarleton in it.
 
There wasn't much offensive action in innings four-six, but Tarleton turned it up in the seventh, beginning the final frame with four straight singles. Peterson, Medford, Wallace and Hill each knocked one through, with two scoring on Hill's hit with the help of an error. Schaefer then tied the game at 4-4 with a sacrifice fly, scoring Wallace, advancing Hill to third. After Austin Germain walked, Tarleton followed with a strikeout and foul out, turning it over to the Spartans.
 
Michigan State quickly took advantage with a hit by pitch and walk. They bunted over the two runners to scoring position, and Jenae Wash ended the game with an RBI infield single.
 
Bridges took the loss (0-2), allowing the one earned run on two hits, two walks and three hit by pitches in 3.1 innings, adding four strikeouts. Michigan State reliever Madison Taylor (1-0) earned the win in her one inning of work.
 
Texas A&M 10, Tarleton 0 (5 Innings)
Tarleton's second game against the Aggies in as many days was a "flush it" night, with little going right against an elite program. The Texans were run-ruled in five innings, getting outhit 12-1.
 
Over the first four innings, Tarleton was held without a base knock. The Texans threatened in the second, beginning the inning with three straight walks to load the bases with no outs, but a strikeout and double play ended the frame. Peterson reached in the fifth on an error by the shortstop.
 
Tarleton freshman Sophia Herrera made her Texan debut in the circle, but got knocked around early, taking the loss after just 0.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits. Makenzie Dunbar (1.2 IP, two earned runs, four hits, four walks, one strikeout), Madison Collins (1.0 IP, four earned runs, two hits, three walks, one strikeout) and Grace Garcia (1.0 IP, 0 runs, two hits, one strikeout) came on in relief.
 
The Aggies opened with five runs in the first thanks to four extra base hits. They added one in the second on a Trinity Cannon solo home run, then four in the third on a Gracyn Coleman grand slam. Madison Preston picked up the win with her complete game shutout, allowing a hit and five walks, adding eight strikeouts.
 
The Texans still have still more to play at the Texas A&M Invitational over the next two days. They'll face Northern Kentucky next, a Saturday 12:30 p.m. CT first pitch at Davis Diamond.