LAKE CHARLES, La. – Tarleton State faced their first challenges of the season dropping back-to-back games Saturday to the Lamar Cardinals and the McNeese State Cowgirls.
 
Game one of the day saw the Texans face off against Lamar who they beat on Friday 7-2 after a five-spot in the fifth inning. This go-around the Texans struggled to get going offensively and that cost them with Tarleton losing 3-1.
 
Kendall Daniel got the start in the circle for the Texans, marking her first ever collegiate start. She donned the Purple and White for the first time on the field for the Texans throwing a complete game just less than two years since a near fatal car accident her senior year of high school in April 2022.
 
In what the Texans looked at to be a bounce back game from the morning misfire was anything but could have been expected. Tarleton State jumped out to an early 3-1 lead after two innings thanks to a two-run shot by Katy Schaefer and a solo shot by Brady Rowland. This rounded out all the scoring for the Texans on the evening as they eventually fell 11-3 in five innings following McNeese's 10 unanswered runs.
 
Lamar
 
In what started out as a pitchers' duel through four innings turned sour as the Texans fell 3-1, marking the first loss of the season.
 
Redshirt freshman Daniel came out firing on all cylinders holding the Cardinals off the board. Two runs in the fifth and one in the seventh was ultimately too much for the Texans to overcome as they only mustered up one run in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Daniel ended her first career start striking out four, walking two and gave up three runs, two earned in seven innings.
 
The Texans' lone run of the game was scored when Tristan Trull singled to left center scoring Avery Songer. Songer came in to run for Rowland who singled to left field and advanced to third on an error by the left fielder.
 
The Texans outhit the Cardinals 7-5 but were unable to do anything with it. The loss marks the first to Lamar since April 29, 2022, when the Purple and White fell in Stephenville 11-9.
 
McNeese
 
In game two of the day, it seemed as if the Texans had found their offensive fire power again blasting two shots over the fence taking an early 3-1 lead after the second.
 
Schaefer got the Texans on the board in the first inning with a two-run shot over the center field wall scoring Kelci Hill who got on with a bunt single back to the pitcher.
 
Schaefer's home run was followed by Rowland's solo shot to left field in the second inning. This was the final time the Texans would put any runs on the board.
 
The McNeese Cowgirls put up and eight-spot in the bottom of the third putting them up 9-3 before they added two more in the next inning bringing the score to the final 11-3.
 
The Texans will be back in action on Sunday as they will square off with McNeese State one more time. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.