No. 21 Texans split final day at George McCorkle Challenge

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SAN ANGELO – Tarleton ended their six-game road trip to Mayer Field in San Angelo with a split. The Texans blasted Texas A&M International and then suffered a setback in a one-run loss to tournament host Angelo State.

Game 1: No. 21 Tarleton 12, Texas A&M International 1
Tarleton dominated Texas A&M International from the first pitch and cleaned up the dust in the opening game of Sunday’s final day at the George McCorkle Challenge in San Angelo.

The Texans swiped the first run of the game on a double steal from Hallie Saintignan and Georgia Capell, but would not stop there. Morgan Ling tacked on an RBI single to right and, two batters later, Kristen Zuehl drove in two runs with a triple to left center. Kadyn Kirkpatrick polished off the five-run first inning with an RBI double to center.

The scoring barrage continued in the second with back-to-back home runs from Georgia Capell and Destiny Crumpley extended the lead to 7-0. Then Zuehl and Kirkpatrick added more runs with an RBI hit by pitch and an RBI walk, respectively. Saintignan finished off the inning with a two-run single to make it an 11-0 lead.

Georgia Capell accounted for the only other run of the game in the fifth with her second home run of the game and third in the last two games.

Meanwhile, Tristan Bridges was in the midst is spinning her third win in the circle. She allowed one run on one hit with two walks and five strikeouts. Jessica Withrow made her Tarleton debut for two hitters before giving way to Julia Wernet for the final three outs.

Saintignan, Capell, and Kirkpatrick each boasted two-hit performances while Crumpley, Shelby Carter, Ling, Medford and Zuehl had one hit each to round out Tarleton’s 11-hit effort.

Game 2: Angelo 3, No. 21 Tarleton 2
Tarleton dropped a nailbiter in the tournament finale as the Texans fell 3-1 to tournament host Angelo State despite pitcher Jordan Withrow surrendering only three hits.

The game started in a scoreless pitcher’s duel through the first three innings before Jordan Withrow ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth.

Withrow rose to the challenge and battled back from a two singles and a hit by pitch over the first three hitters. Kirkpatrick supplied an assist from right field by hosing a runner at the plate. Two batters later, Morgan Medford got the force at home for the second out. Withrow then went to a full count and appeared to have strike three to wiggle out of danger, but the close call went for Angelo State and allowed the first run to come in. An error on the next play allowed two more runs to cross for the Rambelles.

Tarleton scratched back with a run in the top of the fifth when Saintignan led off with a walk and Capell singled. Morgan Ling cashed in with the first RBI of the game for Tarleton with a single up the middle to bring home Saintignan and cut the deficit to 3-1.

The Texans had chances over the last two innings. Tarleton had two on with two out in the sixth but couldn’t push any more across. In the final inning, Destiny Crumpley led off the inning with a solo blast to center and Morgan Ling singled with one away, but Tarleton couldn’t plate the tying run.

Withrow was saddled with the tough-luck loss, throwing all six innings and allowing three runs – one earned – on three hits. She struck out seven.

Ling led the offense with a three-hit performance while Capell and Crumpley had two hits each. Saintignan and Zuehl had one hit each in the nine-hit attack.

Tarleton will head to Lubbock next weekend for a three-game round robin against league rivals Lubbock Christian, Eastern New Mexico and West Texas A&M on the campus of Lubbock Christian University. None of those games will count towards the conference standings. The Texans will begin the weekend Friday at 6 p.m. against LCU.


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