STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Houston scored four in the first inning and neither team had much luck at the plate after that, as Tarleton dropped just their second game at home of the season, losing 7-0 on Friday night.
 
The Texans (13-12) fell to 8-2 at the Tarleton Softball Complex in Stephenville with the shutout loss, while Houston snapped a three-game losing streak to improve back to .500 at 11-11.
 
The Cougars put up a four-spot in the first, although three of the four runs were unearned. The lone earned run came on a double steal, with Houston sending their runners on the corners, and while Tarleton tried to throw one out at second, a run came across. An infield error that would have ended the inning cost Tarleton three more in the hole.
 
Tarleton had a tough day offensively going against Houston's Kenna Wilkey, getting just three runners on through the first four innings. Starting pitcher Grace Garcia settled down after the first and kept the Texans in it, however, going three up three down in each of the second, third and fourth innings, mowing 10 straight Cougars down.
 
In the top of the fifth, the Cougars opened with a single, then Turiya Coleman sent one deep to make it 6-0. Down 7-0 in the bottom of the seventh, Tarleton loaded the bases for their best scoring chance of the game, but a fielder's choice to third ended the game.
 
Garcia (7-3) pitched a complete game, allowing seven runs (four earned) on seven hits and four walks, striking out three. Wilkey (6-5) went six innings, allowing no runs on two hits and two walks, striking out six.
 
There were just 10 combined hits in the game, with Tarleton recording three. Katy Schaefer, Morgan Medford and Kiana Gibson each had a knock. Austin Germain drew three walks in her four plate appearances.
 
Tarleton and Houston will match up Saturday for a single game at 2 p.m. CT at the Tarleton Softball Complex.