Texans, Lopes split Saturday doubleheader, series

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STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton and Grand Canyon defeated the weather and each other once apiece in a doubleheader split Saturday afternoon at Stephenville High School to close out the home schedule. No third game of the series will be played due to travel conflicts for GCU.

Following the game, Tarleton recognized seniors Destiny Crumpley and Lexi Burchfield for their contributions to the Texan Softball program.

Game 1: Tarleton 11, Grand Canyon 1 (6)
Tarleton did their part to ensure the teams beat the weather Saturday afternoon as the Texans blasted Grand Canyon 11-1 and ended it early on a walk-off home run by Katy Schaefer to take game one.

After GCU scored the first run of the game in the opening half inning, it was all Tarleton the rest of the way – primarily thanks to the long ball.

Miranda Pruitt flipped the scoreboard to Tarleton’s favor in the second with a two-run home run to give the Texans a lead.

The 2-1 score carried to the bottom of the fourth until Georgia Capell ripped a historic blast to centerfield. The Texans’ all-time home run leader crushed a grand slam to extend the lead to 6-1 for her 50th career long ball. She is the first Texan in softball history to hit 50 home runs and just the second player to represent Tarleton State University on either the softball or baseball diamond to launch a half-hundred’s worth of homers. Only Tarleton Baseball Hall of Famer and former MLB draft pick Mike Cantu (58) has hit more while wearing the purple and white.

While Julia Wernet continued to deal in the circle, Tarleton maintained its five-run lead after five before scored five in the bottom of the sixth on an error, an RBI single from Jordan Dickerson and a walk-off three-run home run by Schaefer.

Tarleton’s offense enjoyed one its best outings of conference play this season. The Texans boasted 12 hits as a team with Capell leading the way with a 3-3 game with four RBI and two runs scored. Bailee Riggs and Schaefer also had multi-hit performances with two each while Morgan Medford, Dickerson, Hallie Saintignan, Crumpley and Pruitt had one hit each.

Not to be outshined, Wernet was equally as spectacular as the offense that supported her. Wernet earned the pitching win with a complete game. She allowed just one run and five hits while striking out a pair.

Game 2: Grand Canyon 8, Tarleton 0 (5)
Tarleton suffered an 8-0 loss in game two against GCU.

Grand Canyon struck first with a solo run in the third and another in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead over halfway through the contest. Tarleton had its chances early to do some damage by loading the bases in the first and the fourth but came away empty-handed.

GCU put up a six spot in the fifth inning to pull away and Tarleton went down in order in the fifth to seal it.

Tarleton got one hit each from Medford, Capell, Dickerson and Saintignan while Tristan Bridges and Wernet combined for five innings of work in the circle.

Tarleton will return to action next weekend in the season finale at Utah Valley in Orem, Utah.

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