STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Texan Softball fell short in both games of their doubleheader against Tulsa in Thursday's Texan Classic opening.
Tarleton State fell in game one 8-7, nearly completing a seventh inning comeback in which the Texans scored six runs. The Texans continued the momentum, taking it to extra innings in game two, but fell 4-3 in the ninth.
Tarleton State 7, Tulsa 8
Tulsa opened the weekend with a three-run second inning, scoring on a double, a triple, and a walk.
Soon after, the Texans found themselves on the board in the bottom of the third. After reaching base on a pitching error, Mariah Debose scored TSU's first run on two singles by Hayden Fox and Mikayla Wilson.
Tulsa advanced their lead with a home run in the top of the fourth, bringing the score to 4-1.
After quiet fifth and sixth innings, both offenses came alive in the seventh, with each side plating multiple runs. The Golden Hurricane hit two singles and a double to earn four more runs in the top half to take an 8-1 lead. In the bottom half, the Texans offense narrowed the gap with a six-run finish.
With only one inning remaining and one run on the board, the Texans offense narrowed the gap with a six-run finish.
Macie Vickers started the momentum off with a single to the Tulsa pitcher followed by an advance to second base on an error. Jaelynn Duke was first to score on a single to left center by Isabella Bojkovic. Immediately after, Alyson Higginbotham was pushed across the plate on a walk by Scarlett Poore.
Bojkovic soon came around herself, followed by Madison Runyan on an error by Tulsa's shortstop.
Vickers appeared back in the box, sending a double out to left center to bring in both Fox and Debose.
Despite the late surge, the Texans' rally fell just short as Tulsa secured the 8–7 win.
In the circle, Sadie Beck (3-1) was credited with the loss after allowing three runs — one earned — on three hits across 1.2 innings of work. She added one strikeout in the outing before the Texans turned to the bullpen.
Alex Aguilar provided 4.2 innings of relief, giving up three runs on six hits with two strikeouts, while Taylor McKean and Gracie Riney combined for the final inning.
Tarleton State 3, Tulsa 4
The Texans took the second game into extra innings after tying up the score in the fifth.
Tulsa started on the board again, scoring on a double to left center in the top of the first.
Vickers showed up again, singling up the middle to score Fox and tie the score 1-1 in the third.
Tulsa secured a two-run lead in the fifth, but not for long as Tarleton State closed the gap for a second time.
Wilson scored her first run of the night on a single to right field by Duke. Immediately after, Braylin Pannill hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Vickers and tie the game.
Tulsa closed out the night with a single down the left field line to earn their second win in the Texan Classic.
In the circle, Duke (0-1) was charged with the loss after working 4.0 innings in relief, allowing one run on three hits without issuing a walk. Abigail Dowell made the start, tossing 4.2 innings and surrendering three runs — two earned — with five walks and two strikeouts, while Riney added 0.1 innings out of the bullpen.
The staff combined to hold Tulsa to four runs across nine innings, keeping the Texans within reach throughout the night.
Tarleton State will continue action on Friday with two more games against Pitt (2:30 p.m.) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (7:30 p.m.).
