STEPHENVILLE – Following a close loss in Game 1, the Texans (19-29, 5-14 WAC) scored seven unanswered in Game 2 shutting down the Trailblazers (16-27, 9-10 WAC) setting up the rubber match at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The rubber match Saturday will be free admission for all fans. Concessions will be limited to drinks only.
Tarleton State 1 Trailblazers 3
Runs were a hard thing to come by in Game 1 as just a combined four runs were scored over the seven-inning affair. This contest marks the 20th game this season that the score has been decided by two or less runs. The Texans are currently 7-13 in these matchups and are 2-3 in extra-inning games that are decided by two or less runs.
The first inning saw both teams get a runner on but left them stranded before Utah Tech got the scoring started in the top of the second.
Gabi Giroux got the visitors on the board as she doubled down the left field line scoring Marisa Rubio making it 1-0.
In the top of the third the Trailblazers scored their final two runs of the game off the bats of Carly Eldredge and Rubio. Eldredge hit a sac fly to center allowing LB Kahahawai-Kekona to score from third to make it 2-0. Rubio singled to left field pushing Baylee Howley across as the road team went up 3-0 after three.
The Texans avoided the shutout as Brady Rowland walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth bringing in Tristyn Trull for the lone run of the game for the home team.
For Tarleton State, junior transfer Kynlee Marquez (3-8) got the start in the circle and took the loss as she went 3.0 IP. She gave up three runs on four hits, struck out one and walked two. Redshirt freshman Kendall Daniel pitched the final 4.0 innings in relief allowing just three hits while striking out two and walking three.
For Utah Tech, Attlyn Johnston went the distance going 7.0 IP. She gave up just one run on four hits, struck out six while walking four as well.
Tarleton State 7 Trailblazers 0
Game two saw the Texans come just two hits and a walk away from a perfect ending to the night. Alexa Rehmeier had a perfect game going through 4.1 innings before Utah Tech laid down a bunt ending the chances of a perfect finish.
While the perfect game didn’t come to fruition, the Texans did earn their third shutout victory of the week. Earlier in the week the Texans threw back-to-back shutout wins for the first time since Feb. 17-18, 2023 when the Purple and White shutout Northern Colorado 2-0 followed by an 8-0 (5) win over the Lions of Texas A&M-Commerce. The Texans also threw a third shutout the same weekend two games later in what was the second perfect game in program history thrown by then senior transfer Grace Garcia.
Tarleton State scored in every inning they stepped up to the plate in Game 2 firing up the crowd throughout the night.
Katy Schaefer got the scoring started in the first inning when she singled to center field scoring Kayla Wallace to put the Texans up 1-0 early. In the second inning, Kelci Hill singled allowing Hannah Reed to score making it 2-0.
In the third inning, sister Kalyn Hill singled through the left side as Trull came in to make it a 3-0 ballgame. The fourth inning saw yet another run come across as this time Wallace doubled to left center driving in Kelci Hill moving it to a 4-0 Texan lead.
The Purple and White doubled up in the fifth inning scoring two runs to make it 6-0 Tarleton State. Jordan Dickerson singled to left center bringing in Reed and Brady Rowland.
The final run was scored in the sixth inning as Rowland singled through the left side with bases loaded scoring Wallace to make it 7-0, the final score.
In the top of the seventh, junior transfer Rehmeier sat the Trailblazers down in order and sealed the victory with a three-pitch strikeout of Rachel Campbell to end the game.
Rehmeier (W, 6-5) went the distance for the Texans going 7.0 IP. She allowed just two hits while she struck out six and walked one. The six strikeouts mark a season and Texan career-high for the Jefferson City, Missouri, native. She has now struck out 51 batter this season which leads all pitchers for the Texans.
The Trailblazers used a pair of pitchers in Tyler Denhart (L, 4-8) and Danyelle Leone. Denhart went 3.2 innings giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits, struck out a pair and walked two as well. Leone went the final 2.1 innings giving up three runs on seven hits, struck out a pair as well and walked one.
The Texans will return to action on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the rubber match of the series. The game will air live on WAC International and live stats will be available as well.
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