GREENSBORO, N.C. – Tarleton State Softball dropped both contests on Saturday at the UNCG Tournament, falling 9-1 to Lehigh before an 8-0 setback to host UNCG on day two of tournament action.
The Texans now sit at 18-11 overall and 2-2 on the weekend heading into the final day of tournament play.
Lehigh 9, Tarleton State 1
Lehigh struck quickly in the opening frame, capitalizing on a Tarleton State error to open the scoring. After loading the bases, Lizzie Kern cleared them with a three-run triple to right center, giving the Mountain Hawks an early 3-0 advantage.
The Mountain Hawks added to their lead in the second inning with another offensive surge. An RBI bunt single, an RBI fielder's choice, an RBI single, and a two-run double stretched the Lehigh lead to 8-0.
Lehigh tacked on one more in the third on a solo home run to deep right, pushing the advantage to 9-0.
Tarleton State broke through in the top of the fifth when Casey Schultz launched a solo home run to deep center for the Texans' lone run of the game, trimming the deficit to 9-1.
Mikayla Wilson and Schultz each recorded a hit for Tarleton State in the contest.
In the circle, Taylor McKean made the start for the Texans, allowing three runs (none earned) on three hits in 0.2 innings. Abigail Dowell tossed 0.2 innings in relief, surrendering five runs on five hits, while Gracie Riney closed out the final 2.2 innings and allowed just one run on one hit.
UNC Greensboro 8, Tarleton State 0
The second game of the day remained scoreless through the first three innings as both sides were held quiet early.
UNCG broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fourth, stringing together four hits in the frame. A solo home run to right gave the Spartans a 1-0 lead before back-to-back RBI doubles extended the advantage to 3-0.
The Spartans added another run in the fifth on an RBI single to move in front 4-0.
Tarleton State threatened in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with two outs after a walk from Wilson, a walk from Mariah Debose, and a single by Schultz, but UNCG escaped the jam to keep the Texans off the board.
UNCG then broke the game open in the bottom half of the inning. A hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded forced in a run to make it 5-0, before an RBI single pushed the lead to 6-0. The Spartans added two more runs on a TSU fielding error to cap the inning and secure the 8-0 run-rule victory.
Debose and Schultz accounted for the Texans' two hits in the contest.
Shelby Schultz drew the start in the circle and tossed 3.2 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Jaelynn Duke worked 1.1 innings in relief, giving up five runs on four hits, and Riney also saw action in relief.
Tarleton State will look to bounce back on the final day of tournament play Sunday, taking on Elon at Hunt Softball Park at 11 a.m. CT.
