BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Tarleton State Softball kicked off their season on Friday with two wins in the Runnin' Bulldog Classic.
In game one of the two-game season opener, Tarleton State defeated Youngstown State 8-7 after Scarlett Poore sent a 2-RBI double to left center to boost the Texans ahead when they were down to their last out. In game two, the Texans run-ruled the Furman Paladins 17-5 in five innings.
Tarleton State 8, Youngstown State 7
In the first inning of the 2026 season, Tarleton State took a quick 2-0 lead after Jaelynn Duke singled up the middle, scoring Mikayla Wilson and Hayden Fox.
Things went quiet for a while until Youngstown State scored a single run in the bottom of the second inning.
In the bottom half of the third, the Penguins took their first lead of the day after scoring two runs. They continued that lead into the bottom of the fourth, scoring another run to bring the score to 4-2.
After another quiet couple of innings, Braylin Pannill hit a three-run bomb to right field to take back the lead and advance the score to 5-4.
Youngstown State followed up with three runs of their own coming off of two singles and a double in the sixth inning.
Down by two in the final inning, Macie Vickers sent a double to right center to bring in Wilson. With two outs on the board, Poore made her first collegiate appearance, hitting a double to left center to push Alyson Higginbotham and Riley McDaniel across the plate to get the 8-7 win over the Penguins.
Sadie Beck came on and closed the door in the bottom of the seventh to earn the win. She went three-up, three-down, inducing two groundouts and a pop out.
Shelby Schultz started the game, going 3.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits, with four strikeouts.
Alex Aguilar allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in 2.1 innings in her debut, and Taylor McKean also took the circle, striking out one.
Duke went 2-for-3 and a walk on the day with two RBI, and Mikayla Wilson went 2-for-4 in her collegiate debut.
Tarleton State 17, Furman 5 (5)
After securing their first win of the season, the Texans took on Furman in game two of the day.
Tarleton State got things going early in the game, scoring three runs in just the first inning. Pannill earned two RBI on a single through the right side. Casey Schultz reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Duke.
The Texans extended their lead by a whopping eight runs in the second inning, advancing the score to 11-0.
After Hannah Reed walked, Mariah Debose sent a triple down the left field line to push her across home plate.
After another walk, Wilson reached second base on an error by Furman's shortstop, pushing in yet another Texan. Immediately after, Vickers hit a double to left field to bring in Fox and Wilson.
After advancing to third, Vickers scored on a single by Pannill, bringing the score to 8-0.
Tarleton State crossed the plate two more times when Reed sent a single up the middle. Madison Runyan closed out the second inning with a score on a wild pitch.
Furman found themselves on the board in the bottom half of the second inning, scoring on two doubles.
Tarleton State was quick to advance their lead again, scoring six more runs in the third.
Reed was walked for a second time, advancing Pannill to home plate. Runyan and Casey Schultz followed right behind her on a single by Debose.
The Texans closed out the inning with a double by Wilson that resulted in three more runs.
Furman was able to earn three more runs before the run-rule came into effect, closing out the game 17-5.
Wilson finished 2-for-4 with four RBI. Pannill went 4-for-4 with three RBI. Debose had three RBI, going 2-for-3.
Beck earned the win again as she made the start, going three innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks, with four strikeouts. Abigail Dowell and Gracie Riney each pitched an inning.
Tarleton State will continue their opening weekend on Saturday with a second matchup against Furman at 11:30 a.m. CT, followed by their game against tournament host Gardner-Webb at 4:30 p.m. CT.
