LAKE CHARLES, La. – Tarleton State will look to continue their success on the diamond Friday when the Texans open their road portion of their 2024 schedule. The Texans will compete in the McNeese State Tournament playing five games across the three-day schedule.
 
The Texans are no strangers to opening their season on the road as they will for the fourth straight season when they start things off with a matchup vs Tennessee State. This will mark the second ever trip to McNeese for the Texans and first since March of 2022.
 
"Like any season we are really excited to get going," said head coach Mark Cumpian. "You get to the point where you get tired of practicing against each other, so we are glad to finally see someone else."
 
Last season saw Tarleton State secure their second 30+ win season after earning their first one the year prior in 2022. The Texans also made their second straight postseason berth earning a spot in the National Softball Invitational Championships (NSIC). They claimed their second ever postseason win with a 10-4 victory over the UC Davis Aggies.
 
"This year's group is different than previous years," said Cumpian. "They are very dynamic, and we have a chance to create different lineups based on matchups. We have revamped our pitching staff and I feel it will benefit us for the long haul of the season as we can make quick changes if needed. I truly feel that we can make a splash in the WAC this year."
 
This season the Texans have 14 returners and 13 newcomers. The Texans have added nine freshmen to the roster this season while picking up four from the transfer portal.
 
The four student-athletes who the Texans picked up from the portal are Hannah Blincoe, Kalyn Hill, Kynlee Marquez and Alexa Rehmeier. Blincoe is a junior transfer from Houston. Hill rejoins her sister Kelci Hill after transferring from WAC foe Seattle U. Marquez comes to the Texans from South Dakota. This is the second straight year the Purple and White have a South Dakota transfer on their roster after Grace Garcia transferred to the Texans for her final season in 2023. Garcia threw just the second perfect game in program history on Februrary 19, 2023, vs Texas A&M Commerce. Rehmeier transfers to Tarleton State after spending time at Eastern Illinois.
 
The Texans 2024 season will officially get underway when they face off against Tennessee State on Friday at 11 a.m. This will mark the first ever meeting between the Texans and the Tigers. The Tigers are coming off a 22-26-1 season after being eliminated from the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament following their 4-2 loss to top see Southeast Missouri in their third game of the tournament.
 
Following the morning matchup with the Tigers, the Texans will quickly turn their attention to a familiar opponent in the Lamar Cardinals at 4 p.m. Friday. The two used to be conference foes during the Cardinals' one year stint in the Western Athletic Conference during the 2022 season before moving back to the Southland Conference the following year.
 
Tarleton State has faced off against Lamar at least once each season so far in their Division I era. The Texans currently hold a three-game win streak over the Cardinals dating back to April 29, 2022, when the Purple and White defeated the Red and White 4-3 in Stephenville. Lamar finished 22-34 last season seeing their season end after going down 5-4 to Southeastern Louisiana in the Southland Conference Tournament Semifinals.
 
The Texans will have a quick turnaround facing the Cardinals once again Saturday morning at 11 a.m. This will make the 10th all-time game between the squads.
 
Saturday afternoon will see the Purple and White take on host McNeese State in the first of two meet ups on the weekend. The first will come at 4 p.m. on Saturday before the teams meet for a Sunday matchup at 1:30 p.m.
 
The Cowgirls currently hold the 2-1 advantage over the Texans after taking two of three games in March of 2022. McNeese State in coming off an impressive 47-16 season earning a berth to the 2023 NCAA Regionals. They compete in the Seattle Regional coming away with three wins, two over Minnesota and one over No. 7 Washington who would earn a spot in the 2023 Women's College World Series.
 
After the Texans' weekend in Louisiana, the Purple and White will return home to host the Whataburger Invitational and will give Texan Nation a chance to see the team in action before they hit the road once again the following weekend.
 
There will be no streaming of any games available this weekend. Live Stats will be available for all five of the Texans games. For the full 2024 Texan Softball Schedule click here.