STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton had its chances but couldn't capitalize throughout the game as Houston took the rubber game 5-0 Sunday afternoon. 

After Houston put up a two spot in the opening frame, the Texans loaded the bases in the bottom of the first before a strikeout ended the Texan threat. 

A two-out walk for Houston was the only blemish by either pitcher over the next two flawless innings. Then, Houston tacked on one more with a leadoff double and back-to-back bunts to plate their third run of the game. 

In the fifth, Houston put two more across on a two-run homer and then loaded the bases on walks. Grace Garcia managed to stop the bleeding with a strikeout and a flyball to Kayla Wallace in right. 

The Texans led off their half of the fifth with back-to-back singles from Brittany Coe and Kiana Gibson but could do no more than that as Houston sat down the next three batters in order. The Texans went three up, three down in the sixth and had a line drive double play end the threat in the seventh. 

Coe, Gibson, Tristyn Trull, and Katy Schaefer had one hit each for the Texans. 

Kennedy Ferguson took the loss by starting and getting the first two outs before giving way to Tristan Bridges out of the bullpen. Bridges threw 3.2 innings of work before Garcia gave the Texans 2.2 innings of shutout relief. 

Tarleton will return to action Tuesday night at 6 p.m. in Stephenville against UTSA.