OREM, Utah – Tarleton State Softball opened its WAC road series in dominant fashion Friday, sweeping a doubleheader against Utah Valley to secure a 2-0 series lead with one game remaining. The Texans improved to 30-17 overall and 8-3 in conference play with the pair of wins.
Behind a complete-game shutout in the opener and an offensive outburst in game two, Tarleton State controlled both sides of the game to take command of the series.
Tarleton State 4, Utah Valley 0
Tarleton State opened the series with a complete performance in the circle and timely hitting, shutting out Utah Valley 4-0 behind a dominant outing from Shelby Schultz.
The Texans broke through in the third inning. Braylin Pannill started the rally with a single before Mikaila Gilliland entered as a pinch runner. Mariah Debose followed with a single to left field, and Casey Schultz drove in Gilliland with an RBI single to center to put the Texans on the board. Moments later, Jaelynn Duke followed with another RBI single, plating DeBose to give TSU a 2-0 lead.
The Texans doubled their lead in the fourth inning, taking advantage of pressure on the bases. Isabella Bojkovic reached on a walk and Pannill followed with another free pass before Addison Wittram loaded the bases with a single. DeBose then put the ball in play and forced a Utah Valley error, allowing both Bojkovic and Pannill to score and extend the lead to 4-0.
That was all the run support Shelby Schultz would need. The left-hander was in full control, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing just two hits and striking out five. She faced just one batter above the minimum through four innings and worked around minimal traffic late to secure her 13th win of the season.
The Texans totaled nine hits in the opener, with multiple hits coming from Duke and Macie Vickers, while Pannill sparked the offense from the bottom of the lineup.
Tarleton State 15, Utah Valley 1
Tarleton State carried its momentum into game two and delivered an explosive offensive performance, scoring 15 runs to secure the victory.
Utah Valley struck first in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on a leadoff baserunner and productive at-bats to plate a run and take a 1-0 lead.
The Texans responded immediately in the top of the second. Vickers reached to open the inning, and Pannill followed with an RBI single to bring her home and tie the game at 1-1. Later in the inning, Mikayla Wilson came around to score on a wild pitch, giving Tarleton State a 2-1 advantage.
TSU added on in the third with one swing. After Casey Schultz reached base, Jaelynn Duke launched a two-run home run to left field, extending the Texans' lead to 4-1.
The Texans continued to build in the fifth. Casey Schultz swung on the first pitch, sending a solo home run to left field to start the inning. After Vickers drew a walk, Riley McDaniel entered as a pinch hitter and singled through the left side to put two on. Scarlett Poore and Pannill each followed with RBI singles to cap the inning and stretch the lead to 7-1.
The Purple and White put the game away in the seventh, erupting for eight runs on a series of timely hits and patient at-bats.
Pannill followed in Schultz's footsteps, opening the inning with a solo home run to left center to spark the rally and extend the lead to 8-1.
After back-to-back walks put Debose and Hayden Fox aboard, Debose advanced to third base on a wild pitch and later scored on a Wolverine error. Duke followed with a single to load the bases.
Moments later, Wilson came through with an RBI single, plating another run to make it 10-1 as the Texans continued to apply pressure.
With the bases still active, Tarleton State capitalized on a walk, allowing another run to score and push the advantage to 11-1.
The rally continued as Pannill stepped in and delivered a two RBI single, bringing home two more runs to extend the lead to 13-1.
The Texans capped the inning with one final push, plating two more runs as Alyssa Budisalovich closed out the rally with a two-run double to increase the lead to 15-1.
From start to finish, the Texans applied constant pressure at the plate, combining power hitting with disciplined at-bats to secure the doubleheader sweep. Tarleton State totaled 18 hits in the nightcap. Pannill led the team with two runs on four hits, five RBI, and a solo home run. Casey Schultz also recorded three runs on three hits with a home run, and Debose, Duke, and Vickers had multiple hits in the game.
Duke earned the win in the circle, tossing 6.0 innings while allowing only one run on seven hits. Sadie Beck entered in the seventh inning in relief and allowed only one hit.
Tarleton State will look to complete the series sweep on Saturday as the Texans close out the three-game set against Utah Valley with first pitch set for 1 p.m. CT.
