NACOGDOCHES – Tarleton State (16-23, 4-8 WAC) took Game 1 over Stephen F. Austin (9-29, 2-8 WAC), the first win for the Texans at the SFA Softball Field since April 22, 2022.
The Texans got off to a quick start putting up a two-spot in the top of the first.
Tristyn Trull doubled down the right field line to score Kelci Hill making it 1-0 Texans. Kelci Hill reached base on a single to center. Kayla Wallace then singled as Trull scored giving Tarleton State the early 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, SFA put up a three-spot to take the lead 3-2.
Lexi Benson got the Ladyjacks on the board as she singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw as Madison Nguyen scored making it 2-1. The home team then tied things up as Kylie Bishop singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw while Benson came in to score making it 2-2. Ellie Vance put the Ladyjacks up 3-2 as she singled to left field scoring Bishop.
In the top of the third, the Texans tied things up at 3-3 off the bat of Trull. Kelci Hill scored diving headfirst into home as Trull grounded out to the third baseman.
The visiting Purple and White squad took the lead back in the top of the fourth as the younger Hill sister Kalyn doubled to the center field wall allowing Wallace to score from second as she doubled to right field in the at-bat before.
The fifth inning went by scoreless for either team before both teams put up a run each in their halves of the sixth.
In the top of the sixth, Katy Schaefer hit a solo bomb over the center field fence building the Texans’ lead to two going up 5-3.
Schaefer (37) now sits just four long balls away from tying second all-time in program history for home runs (41, Arianna Rodriguez, 2010-13).
In the bottom half of the sixth SFA made it a one run game thanks to Hope Lusk who doubled deep to right center scoring Nguyen making it 5-4. This marked the final run for either team on the night.
The Texans threatened in the seventh with Hayden Fox and Kelci Hill both in scoring position but would fail push them across as the score remained 5-4 Texans heading into the last half inning. Fox reached on a single to center field and then moved to third after it was wide open as she rounded second as Jordan Dickerson grounded out to the catcher. Kelci Hill reached base on a walk and then stole second without a throw.
Kendall Daniel made quick work of the Ladyjacks in the bottom half of the seventh as Benson flew out to Wallace in left field. Bishop then grounded out to Dickerson putting the Texans just one out away from getting back in the win column. Vance grounded out to Schaefer as she threw over to Austin Germain to seal the 5-4 victory over Stephen F. Austin. The series in Nacogdoches is now tied 2-2 with the Ladyjacks holding the slight lead in runs scored at the SFA Softball Field 17-16.
Tarleton State will be back in action Saturday for Game 2 and 3 of the series with first pitches scheduled for 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Both games will air live on ESPN+ and live stats will be available as well.
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