STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Softball closed out its first series and first home series of the 2026 season in style on Saturday, sweeping Rhode Island 2-1 and 11-3 at the Tarleton State Softball Complex to claim the four-game set 3-1. With the pair of wins, the Texans improved to 21-13 overall.
Tarleton State 2, Rhode Island 1
In a tightly contested pitcher's duel to open the day, Tarleton State scratched across just enough offense behind a dominant outing from Shelby Schultz to take the lead in the series.
After both teams were held scoreless through the first two innings, the Texans broke through in the bottom of the third. Mariah Debose reached on a throwing error by the Rhode Island pitcher and quickly moved into scoring position with a stolen base. After Casey Schultz drew a walk, Isabella Bojkovic delivered an RBI single to center field, scoring Debose for the game's first run and giving Tarleton State a 1-0 lead.
Rhode Island answered in the top of the fifth. After a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position, Natalie Maleitzke doubled to right field to bring home the tying run and even the score at 1-1.
TSU responded with the decisive run in the bottom of the sixth. Madison Runyan opened the inning with a single up the middle, and Mikaila Gilliland entered as a pinch runner. Mikayla Wilson followed with a sacrifice bunt to advance Gilliland, and Addison Wittram singled to left to put runners on the corners. After Alyson Higginbotham came on to pinch run and stole second, Hayden Fox worked a walk to load the bases. Debose then came through with an RBI single to left field, scoring Gilliland for the go-ahead run and the 2-1 advantage.
The Texans finished with four hits in the opener. Debose went 1-for-2 with a run scored, an RBI, two walks and a stolen base, while Bojkovic was 1-for-2 with the game's first RBI. Runyan and Wittram each added a hit in the win.
In the circle, Shelby Schultz was outstanding, tossing a complete game to improve to 7-3. The sophomore left-hander allowed just one run on four hits across 7.0 innings while striking out 11 and walking three.
Tarleton State 11, Rhode Island 3 (6 innings)
The Texans completed the sweep in emphatic fashion in game two, using a fast start and a pair of late offensive bursts to pull away for a run-rule victory in six innings.
Tarleton State struck first in the bottom of the opening frame. Debose drew a walk and stole second before Jaelynn Duke roped an RBI double to center field to plate Debose and put the Texans on the board. Moments later, Runyan reached on a Rhode Island error, allowing Duke to score an unearned run and extend the lead to 2-0.
The Texans added another run in the second when Braylin Pannill launched a solo home run to right field, pushing the lead to 3-0.
Rhode Island got one back in the top of the fourth on a solo home run to left, trimming the deficit to 3-1, then evened the score in the fifth with a two-run double to right center to make it 3-3.
The Purple and White answered immediately in the bottom of the fifth. Casey Schultz singled to open the inning, and Gilliland entered as a pinch runner. Runyan then reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, allowing Gilliland to advance to third. Mikayla Wilson followed with an RBI single up the middle to score Gilliland and put Tarleton State back in front 4-3. After Wilson stole second and Bojkovic worked a walk, Wittram delivered a two-run single to shortstop, scoring Wilson and Runyan to stretch the lead to 6-3.
The Texans put the game away with a five-run sixth inning. Higginbotham opened the frame with a walk, and after an out, Duke singled to third to put two on. Runyan then lined an RBI double down the left field line to score Higginbotham and make it 7-3. Wilson followed with an RBI single to left, plating Duke for an 8-3 lead. Bojkovic kept the rally going with a two-run double to right center, scoring Runyan and Wilson to push the margin to 10-3. After Avery Pemberton drew a walk, Alyssa Budisalovich singled through the left side to bring home Bojkovic and cap the 11-3 run-rule victory.
The Texans pounded out 12 hits in game two. Wilson led the way with a 2-for-3 performance, two RBI, two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base. Duke went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored, while Bojkovic finished 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a walk. Runyan added a double, an RBI and two runs scored, Wittram drove in two, and Pannill supplied the solo homer.
In the circle, Abigail Dowell earned the win, moving to 4-1 after allowing three runs on five hits over 5.0 innings with three walks. Alex Aguilar closed out the final inning, allowing one hit while striking out one.
The Texans will return to the Tarleton State Softball Complex on Tuesday for a highly anticipated matchup against No. 3 Texas Tech. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m., with more information to come.
