STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Softball closed out day two of the Texan Classic with a split at the Tarleton State Softball Complex, dropping the first game to Pitt 8-5 before responding with a bounce-back 9-6 victory in the nightcap against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Texans move to 10-4 overall and 1-3 on the weekend in their second home tournament of the season.
Pitt 8, Tarleton State 5
The Texans battled throughout the opener but were unable to overcome early momentum from the Panthers.
Pitt drew three walks to open the game before a two-RBI double down the left-field line started the scoring. A wild pitch and a sacrifice fly added two more runs, and Pitt capped the inning with a two-run double to center field to take an early 6-0 lead.
The Texans answered immediately. Hayden Fox was hit by a pitch and Madison Runyan followed with a single to put two aboard. Macie Vickers drove in Tarleton State's first run with an RBI single to left field to trim the deficit to five.
After a scoreless second inning, Pitt added to its lead in the third. After a leadoff double and stolen base, an RBI single to left extended the Panther advantage to six.
Tarleton State chipped away in the fourth. Jaelynn Duke singled through the left side before Addison Wittram tripled down the right-field line, bringing Duke home and cutting the deficit to five.
The Texans made their biggest push in the fifth. Fox and Runyan were both hit by pitches while Mikayla Wilson reached on a fielder's choice to set up Vickers, who launched a three-run home run to left center to put the Texans within two.
Pitt responded in the sixth with a leadoff double and an RBI single to regain a three-run cushion at 8-5.
The Texans threatened in their final at-bat. Vickers doubled to right center and Isabella Bojkovic followed with a single to put runners on the corners, but the Panthers recorded the final out to secure the win.
Macie Vickers went 3-for-4 with a single, a double, a home run, and four RBI.
Five Texan pitchers combined in the circle, with Jaelynn Duke tossing 1.2 scoreless innings in relief.
Tarleton State 9, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 6
The Texans responded in game two of the night, using a four-run fifth inning to secure the win.
Tarleton State wasted no time getting on the board. Fox drew a leadoff walk and Wilson followed with a single to start the game. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, Vickers doubled to left center to drive in two and give the Texans the early lead.
Casey Schultz continued the momentum with a single to left field and later scored on an RBI single from Fox to extend the lead to 3-0.
The Islanders responded with five runs in the third, capitalizing on two Texan errors and a two-RBI single to take the lead.
Tarleton State evened the playing field with two more runs in the fourth. After Wittram walked and Mariah Debose followed with a single, Fox delivered a two-RBI single to right field to even the score at five.
The Purple and White regained control with an explosive four-run fifth inning. Braylin Pannill singled and advanced on an error that allowed Vickers to score. Later in the inning, Fox doubled down the right-field line to plate two more and push the Texan lead to four.
The Islanders added a sole run on an RBI single in the sixth, but the Texans shut the door the rest of the way.
Fox finished 3-for-3 with a double, two singles, and five RBI, while Vickers recorded a double and two RBI.
Abigail Dowell earned the victory after striking out four across two innings of relief, and Duke picked up her first save of the season.
The Texans will return on Saturday for a single game against Army, with first pitch set for 5:30 p.m.
