COMMERCE, Texas – Late inning runs doomed the Texans (8-7) in their final game of the 2024 Lion Invitational as they fell 7-3 to South Dakota (8-7).
 
The Texans tied the game at three all in the top of the fifth but gave up four unanswered runs marking their seventh loss on the season.
 
Unlike the first matchup with the Coyotes on Friday, South Dakota got the scoring started first this time pushing three runs across in the bottom of the first.
 
Tarleton State came out fighting in the top of the second putting up two runs of their own making it then just a one-run deficit. Hayden Fox reached base on a fielding error by the third baseman in which then Kelci Hill and Tristyn Trull scored.
 
In the top of the fifth inning the Texans made it a whole new ballgame tying things up at three all. The tie didn't hold long as South Dakota scored two in the bottom of the frame putting them up 5-3.
 
The Texans were unable to answer back in the sixth as they were sat down in order ending the hopes of tying things once again.
 
The Coyotes tacked on two more in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run shot over the center field fence making the score 7-3.
 
In the top of the seventh Jordan Dickerson hit a lead-off single but the Texans were unable to push any runs across. Kelci Hill struck out for the first out of the inning followed by Katy Schaefer grounding out into a double play ending the game.
 
The Texans went 2-3 on the weekend at the Lion Invitational with wins over Summit League Champion Nebraska-Omaha and host Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
The Purple and White will have a quick turnaround as they will host Prairie View A&M on Tuesday for a doubleheader at 3 p.m. and  5:30 p.m.
 
Following the mid-week matchup, the Texans will head to Austin for the Longhorn Invitational where they will take on currently ranked No. 2 Texas, Penn State, the Colonial Athletic Association Champion Hofstra and Northwestern State.