PRAIRIE VIEW – The afternoon clash with the Lady Panthers saw the Texans jump out early and never look back as Tarleton State improves to a perfect 13-0 over Prairie View A&M with their 15-1 (5) win over the 2023 SWAC Champions.
Shelby Schultz once again had a solid outing in the circle as she tossed her second complete game backed by a huge offensive cushion from the Texan bats. Tarleton State has now outscored Prairie View A&M 154-38 as they average 11.84 runs a game. The 15-1 win marks the third-largest margin of victory over the Lady Panthers in the 11 meetings behind 24-1 and 23-1 victories on March 1, 1997. The 14-run win margin marks the second largest in the Purple and White’s Division I era.
With Tristyn Trull and Hayden Fox on early, Kalyn Hill doubled to left center scoring Fox and advancing Trull to third giving the Texans the early 1-0 lead. Hill then advanced to third on an error by the catcher as Trull came across to score to make it 2-0. Kiana Gibson then hit a sac fly to center driving Hill in to make it 3-0 after one.
Tarleton State loaded the bases in the second as Trull came to the plate and walked allowing Braylin Pannill to score the Purple and White’s fourth run of the ball game to make it 4-0. Trull then moved to second on a passed ball as Fox moved to third and Jaelynn Duke scored the fifth run pushing it to a 5-0 lead.
Hill then collected her second hit of the day as she hit a bases clearing single to center scoring Trull and Fox making it 7-0 in the second. Gibson then stepped into the box and took the Lady Panthers deep for her first long ball of the season as the lead grew to 9-0 in the second.
The third inning saw the Texans score six once again effectively putting any comeback from the home team out of reach. With the bases loaded again, Fox headed down to first after being hit by a pitch in back-to-back innings scoring Bella Hernandez to make it 10-0 in the third. Fox has now been hit six times thus far accounting six of 11 hit by pitches the Texans have this season.
After Fox reached on the hit by pitch loading the bases again, Trull drew her second bases loaded walk of the day scoring Riley McDaniel to push it to 11-0.
With Trull, Fox and Duke all on, Hill stepped to the plate looking to go 3-for-3 at the plate and she did just that in a grand way. On a 1-2 count, the Murrieta, California, native, took the Lady Panthers deep to center on a no doubter grand slam to make it 15-0 in the third. Her grand slam marked her first of her career as she collected her seventh RBI of the game.
The home team was able to break up the shutout in the fourth as Kearstin Tinsley singled to right scoring Lainey Neiderhofer to make it 15-1, the final.
Tarleton State walked seven times in the afternoon matchup marking the fourth time they have done so thus far this season.
For the Texans, Schultz (W, 7-3) held things down in the circle as Tarleton State led wire to wire. She went five innings allowing just a single run (earned) on six hits while she struck out eight for the third time this season including back-to-back starts dating back to her name being called as the starter for Game 2 of the series with UT Arlington. She also walked two. Schultz continues to lead the Texans in strikeouts as she now sits just 17 away from 100 strikeouts in her first season at the collegiate ranks. She also leads the Purple and White in wins with seven thus far and has tossed 64.2 IP.
For the Lady Panthers, Caden Young (L, 0-1) earned the start going 1.2 IP giving up seven runs (six earned) on two hits while walking three and striking out just one. Cailin Massey then took over for just 0.1 IP as she allowed two runs (both earned) on two hits and sat down one. Gabrielle Larson then took over for Massey and went just 0.1 IP as well. She gave up six runs (all earned) on one hit and walked four while striking out one. Halley Elizarraras closed things out for the home team going the final 2.2 IP allowing just one hit while sending two back to the dugout.
The Texans will continue their road trip as they will head out west for a three-game conference series with Grand Canyon Friday-Saturday. The two teams will face off in a doubleheader on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. CT. The rubber match is set for a 2 p.m. CT first pitch. This marks the Purple and White’s second trip to the Phoenix after making their first in 2023 when the Texans took the opening game of the three-game series 5-2.
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