STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The final score does not depict the fight the Texans had as they fell 6-3 to Houston on Tuesday.
Houston got on the board first in the bottom of the first as Brooke Wells singled to right with Isabel Cintron advancing to third and then scoring on an error from the right fielder to make it 1-0 early on for the Cougars. Cintron reached as she hit a double to right center off a 3-2 count.
With bases loaded, Jordee Wilkins walked as the Red and White went up 2-0. Ariel Redmond then followed with a single as Makenna Mitchell scored making it 3-0 Houston.
Hannah Blincoe made her return to Houston after transferring following the 2023 season with the Cougars and she wasted no time showing why she is the WAC Pitcher of the Week. Blincoe struck out her first batter faced back in Houston as Maddie Hartley struck out swinging.
After loading them up in the top of the third with
Isabella Bojkovic,
Austin Germain and
Haley Hughes,
Tristyn Trull was patient at the plate as she walked to bring in Tarleton State's first run making it 3-1.
Kalyn Hill then reached on an error by third base as Germain scored to bring the Purple and White within a run.
Casey Schultz then singled through the left side on a 2-1 count scoring Hughes to tie things up 3-3 in the third.
Following the three-spot from the Texans in the third, the score remained tied until the bottom of the sixth when the home squad took the winning lead.
With Bethany Aguilar on, Wilkins homered to center on a 2-2 count to break the tie and make it 5-3 Houston. Redmond then followed Wilkins launching one of her own to right field of a 1-2 count to make it 6-3, the final.
Facing a three-run deficit in the top of the seventh didn't stop the Texans fight.
In the top of the seventh,
Hayden Fox led off for Tarleton State pinch hitting for fellow junior
Hannah Reed and walked putting the tying run in the on-deck circle.
Mikaila Gilliland then took over for Fox at first pinch running.
Germain then lined out to first base on a 1-0 count as Gilliland stole second with the tying run in the on-deck circle. Hughes then lined out to left field putting the Texans down to their final out, but the Purple and White wasn't done yet.
Trull then drew her second walk of the game on a full count to bring the tying run to the plate in Hill. After working to a 3-2 count, the Texans were down to their final strike once again. Hill hit a shot to right center that was just inches from getting down as the right fielder Redmond made a diving scoop play to end the Texans late threat as the Cougars won their first mid-week of the year moving to 10-4 as the Purple and White fall to 11-5.
For the Texans,
Sadie Beck earned the start and went just an inning as she gave up three runs (all earned) on four hit while she walked two and struck out one. Blincoe (L, 3-2) took over to begin the second and went four innings giving up three runs (all earned) on four hits as she struck out six and walked just one.
Alexa Rehmeier took over for the final inning of work for the Texans as she gave up no runs on no hits and struck out one.
For the Cougars, Nevaeh Brown started in the circle going 2.2 IP giving up three runs (one earned) on one hit, walked three and struck out one. Maddie Hartley took over in the circle moving from DP to pitcher. Hartley went 3.1 IP as she gave up just three hits while striking out three. Brooke Wells tossed the final inning giving up no runs on no hits and walked two.
The Texans are set to return to action on Friday as they will head east to Monroe, Louisiana for the Best on the Bayou tournament Friday-Sunday.
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