BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The 2026 Tarleton State Softball season hardly could've started any better.
The Texans (5-0) swept their run at the Runnin' Bulldog Classic with a 7-6 win against Youngstown State (2-3) on Sunday. This marks the second time the Texans have started a season 5-0 in their NCAA Division I era, their first since 2022 when they started 10-0.
After three straight comfortable wins, the Texans faced another tough game against Youngstown State, who they defeated in the season opener on Friday in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, 8-7. Tarleton State allowed a two-run home run by the Penguins in the first inning, then trailed 3-1 in the second. In the bottom of the second, freshman
Mikayla Wilson sent a three-run triple to left center to boost the Texans ahead 4-3.
Casey Schultz belted her first home run of the season in the third to lift Tarleton State ahead 6-3.
Youngstown State responded with three straight over the next three innings, adding two in the fourth and the game-tying run in the sixth. In the bottom half of the sixth, Wilson hit a go-ahead RBI single to make it 7-6.
Shelby Schultz closed the door in the top of the seventh, three-up three-down, with two strikeouts, to win her first of the season. Schultz went 1.1 IP, allowing no runners, to earn her first decision, now 1-0.
Gracie Riney made her first start, allowing two earned runs on two hits and a walk in 1.2 IP.
Jaelynn Duke took the circle for two innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits, and
Sadie Beck appeared in her fourth game of the year, allowing an unearned run on four hits and three walks, with two strikeouts, in two innings.
Wilson finished 3-for-4 on the day with four RBI. The freshman from New Braunfels High School has started her collegiate career batting .650 (13-for-20) with a team-high 11 RBI in five games. She's also scored seven runs.
Casey Schultz finished 2-for-3 with those two RBI and two runs, and five other Texans got a hit (
Hayden Fox 1-for-2 and a walk with two runs scored,
Macie Vickers,
Madison Runyan with two runs scored,
Addison Wittram, and
Mariah Debose).
For Youngstown State, Isabella O'Brien took the loss in relief, allowing one earned run on five hits in three innings. Starter Kelsey Ogin allowed six runs (five earned) on five hits and a walk and hit batter in three innings.
Tarleton State will now be home for 11 straight games, starting with their home opening pair on Friday against Stephen F. Austin (3 p.m.) and Colgate (5 p.m.). Friday through Sunday is the Whataburger Invitational at the Tarleton State Softball Complex, with 10 total games that also features South Dakota State.
Tickets for the tournament can be purchased
here.
