GREENVILLE, S.C. – With two more wins Saturday, Tarleton is off to its best start since 2018 and its second-best start under head coach Mark Cumpian after the Texans pounded Maryland Eastern Shore and Furman to improve to 4-0.
Game 1: Tarleton 12, Maryland Eastern Shore 2 (6)
Different day, same result.
The Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore will be glad to have Tarleton off their schedule after the Texans picked up where they left off Friday to win 12-2 in six innings. The Texans outscored the Hawks 25-3 over two consecutive games.
Tarleton started early by tacking on two quick ones on two singles, a throwing error, and a passed ball within the first three batters of the game. Then a two-run scoring error on the left fielder allowed Tarleton to snag an early 4-0 advantage.
Not that she would need any more support, but Hannah Mayo’s offense left little doubt while the right-hander earned her first win in her purple and white debut.
Tarleton added three more in the third on an RBI walk from Ashlee LaRue and another two-run error with two outs to extend the lead to 7-0. Tarleton put the game away with a five spot in the sixth inning with an RBI single from Katy Schaefer, a three-run home run from Georgia Capell, and a sacrifice fly by Alexis Hoang.
The home run from Capell was her 51st career long ball. She is already the program leader and the only player in Texan Softball history with over 50 homers.
Mayo went four innings in the circle, allowing two runs. She struck out two and didn’t walk a batter. Chyanne Ellett made her Tarleton debut with two innings of flawless relief, striking out four.
Tarleton boasted four different players with two-hit performances – Morgan Medford, Brady Rowland, LaRue, and Hallie Saintignan. Amanda DeSario, Schaefer, Capell, and Brittany Coe had one hit each to round out the 12-hit attack.
Game 2: Tarleton 10, Furman 3
In the nightcap, Tarleton proved to be quite the unwelcome guests by dismantling the tournament host Furman Paladins 10-3.
After a Medford walk and a DeSario double, Brady Rowland put the Texans on the board first with an RBI grounder. The Paladins would tie the game in the first and take a 2-1 lead after three, putting Tarleton behind in a game for the first time this weekend.
The offense came to life in the fourth, beginning with a big swing from Brady Rowland. The catcher from Colbert, Oklahoma led off the inning with a solo home run to tie the game and spark a six-run inning.
Tarleton loaded the bases on an error and two singles before another miscue allowed two more runs to come in. Tristyn Trull (1) and DeSario (2) went on to cash in RBI hits in the inning – a single from Trull and a double from DeSario – to give Tarleton a 7-3 lead.
After Furman scratched back with one in the fourth, Tarleton scored three unanswered over the final two innings on a run-scoring error and a home run from Katy Schaefer.
Meanwhile, Tristan Bridges earned her second win of the weekend with another seven-strikeout performance – this time in just four innings of work. She allowed three runs – only two earned – on five hits and a walk while striking out seven. Kennedy Ferguson earned the save with three innings of shutout work and four strikeouts.
Medford led the way at the top of the order with a three-hit game while DeSario, Capell and Trull had two hits each. Rowland, Schaefer, LaRue and Hoang each had one hit for Tarleton.
The Texans will look for a clean sweep of the tournament tomorrow morning with an 8 a.m. CT showdown against North Dakota. There will not be live stats or video for the game.
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