STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Softball battled through a long day of postseason play Friday at the 2026 WAC Softball Tournament, falling to top-seeded California Baptist before responding with an 8-4 elimination-game victory over Utah Valley to advance to Saturday's championship game at the Tarleton State Softball Complex.
The Texans moved to 37-22 overall and will now face California Baptist in the tournament championship round.
Game one of the day featured a nearly three-hour lightning delay in the bottom of the second inning before play resumed later in the afternoon.
California Baptist 12, Tarleton State 4
Tarleton State jumped out to an early lead before California Baptist answered with a big second inning after the lengthy weather delay.
The Texans struck first in the opening frame. Hayden Fox singled to begin the game and Macie Vickers followed with a base hit. Two batters later, Casey Schultz launched a three-run home run to left center field to give the Purple and White an early 3-0 advantage.
California Baptist answered in the bottom half of the inning. The Lancers plated three runs on an RBI double, a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to even the score at 3-3.
After lightning in the surrounding area halted the game for nearly three hours in the bottom of the second inning, CBU seized momentum with a six-run frame. The Lancers used a two-run single, a three-run home run and an RBI double to build a 9-3 lead.
California Baptist added two more runs in the third on an RBI double and RBI single to extend the lead to 11-3.
The Lancers pushed across their final run in the fourth on a solo home run to make it 12-3.
TSU added one final run in the fifth. Vickers singled before Jaelynn Duke reached on a hit and advanced to second on an error. After Casey Schultz drew a walk and Isabella Bojkovic reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, Madison Runyan grounded out to bring home Duke and cut the deficit to 12-4.
Shelby Schultz made the start before Duke, Gracie Riney and Abigail Dowell each appeared in relief.
The Texans recorded eight hits in the contest, led by Vickers' three-hit performance. Casey Schultz drove in three runs with her first-inning home run, while Duke, Runyan, Bojkovic and Fox each added hits.
Tarleton State 8, Utah Valley 4
Facing elimination, the Texans answered with a strong offensive performance and a complete-game effort from Shelby Schultz to keep their postseason run alive.
Utah Valley opened the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the second, but Tarleton State quickly responded with a six-run inning in the bottom half.
Casey Schultz drew a walk before Hayden Fox tied the game with an RBI double to right center. Madison Runyan followed with a single, and Braylin Pannill lifted a sacrifice fly to score Fox and give the Texans the lead.
After Addison Wittram was hit by a pitch and Mariah Debose walked to load the bases, Mikayla Wilson singled to bring home two more runs. Vickers followed with a two-RBI single to right field as Tarleton surged in front 6-1.
Utah Valley cut into the lead in the fifth with an RBI single to make it 6-2.
The Wolverines added two more runs in the sixth on a two-RBI single, trimming the Texans' advantage to 6-4.
Tarleton State fired back immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Debose singled and later scored on an RBI single by Vickers, who advanced to third on an error. Duke followed with another RBI single to extend the lead to 8-4.
Shelby Schultz retired the Wolverines in order in the seventh to seal the victory and send the Texans to the WAC Tournament championship game.
Shelby Schultz earned her 19th win of the season after tossing another complete game. The sophomore struck out eight while allowing four runs on six hits across seven innings.
The Texans finished with 10 hits in the elimination-game win. Vickers led the way with three RBI, one run, and two hits. Runyan also recorded two hits, and Debose reached base three times and scored twice.
Tarleton State will face California Baptist on Saturday in the championship round of the 2026 WAC Softball Tournament in Stephenville with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
