PHOENIX – After all the dust settled in Phoenix, rankings did not mean much as the Texans (18-14, 4-5 WAC) handed GCU their first home series loss since 2022 and their first conference series loss since 2023 as Tarleton State secured the 5-2 victory over the Lopes (23-6, 3-2 WAC) on Saturday to take the series 2-1 marking the Texans first series win over the Lopes.
 
The two teams came into Saturday looking to take the rubber match to secure the series and Tarleton State did just that out playing Grand Canyon on their home turf. The Texans took Game 1 on Friday 3-0 as Hannah Blincoe tossed her third complete game and shutout. The shutout marks just the second time the Lopes have gone scoreless this year with the first time coming on Feb. 15, 2025, when then No. 8 Oregon shutout Grand Canyon 4-0. Both shutouts thus far this season have come on home turf for the Lopes.
 
The Friday shutout of GCU marks the first time since 2021 that the Lopes have been shutout twice in the regular season. In 2021 the Lopes went scoreless six times with the first coming on Feb. 27, 2021, when No. 2 Oklahoma shutout Grand Canyon 14-0 at GCU. Just under a month later the Thunderbirds from Southern Utah complete the task securing a 10-0 win over the Lopes handing them their second shutout of the regular season. GCU was shutout by No. 8 Arizona (twice) No. 14 Arizona State and Dixie State.
 
A three-run fourth inning for the Texans made all the difference in the rubber match as both teams scored one each in the second and seventh.
 
Following a scoreless inning for both teams in the first, Tarleton State got on the board in the top of the second as Braylin Pannill singled up the middle scoring Kalyn Hill to take the early 1-0 lead.
 
Grand Canyon responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the second as Tinley Lucas singled through the left side and advanced to second on the throw as Makaiya Gomez scored to tie it up 1-1.
 
In the top of the fourth the Texans plated three taking their final lead any never looked back. Emily Darwin took over in the circle for Taryn Batterton as Hill stepped into the box. Hill singled up the middle on a 3-2 count putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. Darwin was then pulled after facing just a single batter and still on the hook for the runner at second. Batterton then entered back in the game. Riley McDaniel then went in to pinch run for Hill. Grand Canyon then made a multitude of defensive changes.
 
After coming back in the game, Batterton gave up a homer to Kiana Gibson as she went deep to left center putting the Purple and White up 3-1 in the fourth. Isabella Bojkovic then singled through the left side on an 0-1 count ending Batterton's day. Oakley Vickers then took over in the circle striking out Bella Hernandez on a six-pitch swinging strikeout. Pannill then was hit by a pitch putting two on for the Texans. Casey Schultz then pinch hit for Hannah Reed and went up 3-1 in the count before Vickers was pulled mid at-bat. Maggie Place then took over with the risk of walking Casey Schultz by throwing anything but a strike. Place did just that loading the bases for the hot bat of Hayden Fox. After a questionable call bringing Fox back to the plate after she was called for leaning into the pitch, she singled to left field scoring the Texas fourth run of the game in Bojkovic putting up the road team up 4-1 in the fourth.
 
In the top of the seventh, Hill added another insurance run hitting her third long ball of the week on a 3-1 count putting the Texans up 5-1.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Gomez doubled to right center scoring Savannah Kirk to make it 5-2. Hannah Blincoe then struck out the Lopes final hope securing the series over the Lopes 2-1 with the 5-2 rubber match victory.
 
For the Texans, Kynlee Marquez got the start and went two innings as she gave up one run (earned) on three hits. Shelby Schultz (W, 8-3) tossed the next 2.1 IP giving up no runs on two hits while she struck out three and walked one. Gracie Riney then pitched 0.2 IP walking just one. Hannah Blincoe (S, 2) earned her second save of the season as she went two innings giving up one run (earned) on four hits while striking out one and walking one as well.
 
For the Lopes, Taryn Batterton earned the start and went three innings giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits and struck out four and walked one. Emily Darwin (L, 0-2) did not record an out as she gave up one run (earned) on one hit. Oakley Vickers went just 0.1 IP as she struck out one. Maggie Place then went 2.2 IP giving up one run (earned) on four hits while striking out two and walking one. Meghan Golden tossed the final inning and struck out three.
 
Tarleton State is set to return to action on Friday as the Texans will host Seattle U Friday-Saturday for a three-game conference series. Friday will feature a doubleheader at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. followed by Game 3 on Saturday at 11 a.m. All three games will air live on ESPN+ and live stats will be available as well. Tickets are available for the three game series.
 
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