STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Softball took care of business in its midweek non-conference matchup on Wednesday night, defeating North Texas 6-1 at the Tarleton State Softball Complex. Behind a six-run outburst over the first three innings and a strong performance in the circle, the Texans improved to 25-17 overall with the victory.
Tarleton State wasted no time getting on the board, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first to take early control.
Mariah DeBose started the inning with a single to left center, and Mikayla Wilson followed after being hit by a pitch. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position before Casey Schultz delivered the big hit, driving a two-run double to center field to bring home DeBose and Wilson for a 2-0 lead. Later in the frame, Isabella Bojkovic added a sacrifice fly to right field that plated Schultz and pushed the Texans in front 3-0 after one.
The Texans added three more in the third to create even more separation.
Macie Vickers drew a leadoff walk and Madison Runyan followed with a single to right field to put two aboard. Braylin Pannill then broke the game open, launching a three-run home run to left center to score both runners and extend TSU's lead to 6-0.
North Texas broke through in the sixth when Elizabeth Moffitt hit a solo home run to left field, but that would be the only run the Mean Green could muster.
Tarleton State finished with nine hits in the win, led by Pannill's 2-for-3, three-RBI performance that included both a double and a home run. Runyan also went 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored, while Schultz drove in two runs on her first-inning double. DeBose, Vickers, Duke and Addison Wittram each added a hit as well.
The Texans were sharp in the circle by committee. Jaelynn Duke earned the win to improve to 3-4, tossing five scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and one walk. Shelby Schultz closed the door in the seventh with two strikeouts, while Sadie Beck also saw time in the circle as Tarleton State limited North Texas to just four hits in the game.
Tarleton State will now turn its attention back to conference play as they continue WAC action against Southern Utah this weekend. The Texans and the Thunderbirds will face off in a doubleheader on Friday (4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.) followed by a single game on Saturday (12 p.m.).
