LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Texans opened their season on the road for the fourth straight time since making the move to NCAA Division I, and they were perfect on opening day, going 2-0 to start their five-game set in the McNeese State Tournament Friday.
Tarleton State came out strong on their first day of competition for the 2024 campaign with 13-5 and 7-2 wins over Tennessee State and Lamar, respectively.
"I thought we did a good job today of controlling each game," said head coach
Mark Cumpian. "Our hitters did a good job of setting the tone and our pitchers really battled and worked as a complete staff to secure each game. I'm proud of how we played, and we need to continue to take it one game at a time."
Tennessee State Tigers
In the first meeting with the Tennessee Tigers, the Texans got things started off quickly going up 10-1 after just two innings. They opened the scoring with two runs in the first after Tennessee State put up a one-spot in the top of the inning. After holding them scoreless in the top half of the second, the Texans unleashed against the Tigers tacking on eight more runs.
Kayla Wallace got the scoring started with a single to right field scoring
Austin Germain to tie the game at one apiece. Wallace ended up at third after advancing to second on the throw and third on an error by the second baseman. Wallace then came in to score on the throw. The Texans took the 2-1 lead, but it wouldn't hold for long.
The Purple and White seemed to unleash everything they had in the bottom of the second boosting the score to 10-1 Texans. With Tristan Trull and
Jordan Dickerson on, Germain doubled to left field scoring them both making the score 4-1.
Katy Schaefer then hit a sac fly to left field scoring Germain putting the Texans up by four.
With the Hill sisters on [Kelci and Kalyn] as well as Wallace,
Brady Rowland came to the plate and hit a double to right center scoring all three making the score 8-1. With Rowland on, Dickerson hit a two-run shot just inside the left field foul pole putting the Texans up by nine at the end of the inning making the score 10-1. Dickerson's home run marked the first of the season for the Texans. This gave the Purple and White a chance to run-rule the Tigers if the score held through four and a half.
The Tigers chipped away in the top of the third putting up a four-spot, but the Texans would be too much for them to overcome.
With the lead cut to five, Tarleton State was hungry for the run-rule putting up three in the bottom of the fourth. Dickerson, Rowland, and
Molly Cochran all scored off a double by Trull who advanced to third on an error by the Tigers left fielder. The score now sat 13-5 Texans.
Tarleton State then retired the Tigers down in order in the top of the fifth, securing the first win of the 2024 season. They then quickly turn their attention to former WAC foe and current Southland member Lamar.
Hannah Blincoe got the starting nod for the Texans on opening day but ultimately was pulled after 2.1 innings of work. Fellow transfer
Kynlee Marquez took over for Blincoe and earned the win after going 2.2 IP. Marquez struck out two on the day while also walking two.
Lamar
The Texans' second game of the day got off to a slower start than their first. They went up 1-0 in the top of the first after
Kelci Hill singled to center field scoring Wallace.
Things stayed quiet until the top of the third when the Texans tacked on another run making the score 2-0. Wallace hit a solo shot over the center field wall, her first of the year and the Texans' second of the day. In the bottom of the frame, the Cardinals put up a two-spot of their to equal the score.
After a quiet fourth inning for both sides, the Texans scored five in the fifth. This marked the final scoring of the game for both teams. With Trull on,
Ashlee LaRue doubled to center field making it 3-2.
Kelci Hill singled through the right-side scoring LaRue and Germain adding two more for the Texans.
Schaefer walked and then Cochran pinch ran for Schaefer. Cochran would steal second before
Kelci Hill scored on a wild pitch and Cochran moved to third. The final run for the Texans was scored by Cochran who scored after Rowland reached on an error by the second baseman. The score then read 7-2 Texans and would hold through seven giving the Texans their second win of the season and momentum going into day two of the tournament on Saturday.
Alexa Rehmeier got the starting nod for game two of the day. She put in work going 5.1 IP, striking out six.
Makenzie Dunbar came in for the final 1.2 innings of work securing the win for the Texans. Rehmeier was credited with the win.
The Texans will be back in action Saturday when they take on Lamar at 11 a.m. and host McNeese State at 4 p.m. at the Cowgirl Diamond.
