STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Softball pulled out a 6-4 win in Sunday's game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with a big five-run sixth inning to close out the annual Texan Classic. 

The Texans had a slow start to the game, remaining scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi started the game off with single runs scored in the second, third, and fourth innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Jaelynn Duke reached base on a walk. Casey Schultz was right behind her with a single to shortstop. Madison Runyan bunted the ball for another single, loading the bases for Braylin Pannill. Pannill walked to push Duke across home plate, narrowing the deficit to two. 

After a scoreless fifth inning, A&M-Corpus Christi added another run to the board off a groundout to second base. 

Momentum shifted in the bottom half of the inning as the Texans scored five straight runs to take the lead. 

Three consecutive singles by Runyan, Addison Wittram, and Pannill resulted in another bases loaded situation. After Hayden Fox lined out to shortstop, an Islander error advanced the bases and allowed Runyan to score. 

Mikayla Wilson was up to bat next, singling to left field to bring Wittram home. 

Macie Vickers followed her with a big double to left center, batting in Wilson and Mikaila Gilliland, who was pinch running for Pannill. 

Duke hit another single, this time to right center to score Vickers and take the lead 6-4. 

Tarleton State utilized four pitchers in the circle to secure the 6-4 win, combining for six hits allowed and four runs across seven innings. Sadie Beck started and went 4.0 innings, limiting the Islanders to two runs (one earned) while striking out three. Gracie Riney added 0.1 inning, and Taylor McKean added 2.0 innings of relief. Abigail Dowell (3-0) was credited with the win after recording the final two outs of the sixth to halt a late threat. Beck returned to close the door in the seventh, earning her first save of the season. 

At the plate, the Texans turned in 10 hits and capitalized on a five-run sixth inning to flip a three-run deficit into the deciding margin. Vickers highlighted the rally with a two-run double, finishing with two RBI, while Wilson, Runyan, and Schultz each posted multi-hit performances. 

The Texans will take on another road tournament this weekend, competing in the UNM Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Feb. 27-March 1.