STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton State handed Seattle U their first conference loss of the season with a 4-2 win in Game 2 following an offensively heavy series opener.
After dropping Game 1 of the doubleheader 12-6, Tarleton State (19-15, 5-6 WAC) rebounded thanks to a seven-strikeout complete game performance by Shelby Schultz as the Purple and White handed the Red and Black of Seattle U (22-11, 7-1 WAC) their first conference loss 4-2 in Game 2.
Tarleton State 6 Seattle U 12
A 30-minute top of the third made all the difference in Game 1 as the Redhawks scored nine runs on six hits leaving just one on.
After Hannah Blincoe sat down the first three batters for Seattle U in the first, Tarleton State jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the first.
With Hayden Fox on, Tristyn Trull stepped to the plate doubling to right center scoring Fox to make it 1-0 early on. Hill then reached base on a walk putting two on for Austin Germain as she made her return to the lineup following a four-game absence. Germain wasted no time making her presence known as she doubled down the left field line scoring Trull and moving Hill to third increasing the lead to 2-0. Bella Hernandez then came to the plate after Kiana Gibson reached on a hit-by-pitch and scored Hill of a sac fly to center making it a 3-0 Texans lead.
The second was quiet for both sides before Seattle U went on a 9-run tear in the top of the third putting them up 9-3.
With two on for the Redhawks, Mikee Morris stepped into the box and tied things with one swing sending one deep to left to make it 3-3 in the third. The Red and Black then scored six more to go up big in the third. Nicola Simpson then singled to right driving in run number four to make it 4-3. Brooklyn Jones then drew a bases loaded walk to make it 5-3. Abbie Fales then walked right on the heels of Jones to make it 6-3.
The bleeding didn’t stop there as Seattle U put up three more runs in the third. Mikee Morris then made her presence felt once again this time hitting a bases clearing double to left center to make it 9-3 Redhawks.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Texans got two runs back thanks to Hill and Gibson. Hill put down her second bunt of the season scoring Fox from third to make it 9-4 in the bottom half of the fourth. Then with Germain and Hill on, Gibson hit a double to left scoring Hill to make it 9-5.
The Red and Black responded with a run of their own in the top of the fifth as Fales hit a solo shot to left putting Seattle U up by five, 10-5.
In the bottom half of the fifth the Texans responded with a run of their own to cut the lead to four as Jaelynn Duke singled to right scoring Casey Schultz to make it 10-6.
With the Texans in striking distance late in the game, Seattle U put an end to any comeback as they put two more on the board in the top of the seventh off the bat of Tai Wilson as she doubled to right center scoring Mikee Morris and Fales to make it 12-6, the final for Game 1.
For the Texans, Hannah Blincoe (L, 5-8) took the circle for Game 1 going just 2.1 IP. She allowed right runs (all earned) on six hits while striking out two and walking one. She also hit two Redhawks. Kynlee Marquez pitched the middle innings going 2.2 IP giving up two runs (both earned) on five hits as she struck out a pair and walked one. Sadie Beck closed things out the circle for the Texans going the final two innings as she allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits and struck out one.
For the Redhawks, Avari Morris pitched the meat of the game for the road team going five innings as she allowed all six of the Texans hits (all earned) on nine hits as she walked six and struck out four. She was also tagged with a hit-by-pitch. Berkley Vance tossed the final two innings allowing just a single hit while striking out a pair.
Tarleton State 4 Seattle U 2
The Texans were quick erase Game 1 from their memory as they evened the series up 1-1 to set up the rubber match on Saturday morning with their 4-2 win in Game 2.
Trull once again was quick to make it known that she’s a threat in the box as she went yard to left to put the Purple and White up 1-0 in the first.
In the bottom of the second, Duke followed in Trull’s path hitting a solo shot out of the complex to left putting Tarleton State up 2-0 after two in the ‘Ville.
After going down 2-0, Taylor Fitch hit a neutralizer to left, the third long ball to left between the two programs to tie things up 2-2 in the fourth.
Kiana Gibson knocked in the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth as she doubled to left center scoring Riley McDaniel to make it 3-2. McDaniel came in to pinch run for Hill after she singled to right field. Duke then tacked on an insurance run as she singled to left center scoring Mikaila Gilliland (pinch ran for Gibson) to make it 4-2, the final for Game 2.
For the Texans, Shelby Schultz (W, 9-3) tossed her third complete game of her young collegiate career going all seven innings allowing just two runs (both earned) on four hits as she struck out seven and walked just one. Her seven strikeouts put her now just three away from the century mark, giving her the opportunity to complete the feat and be the first freshman since Jordan Withrow who complete the task during her freshman campaign as she struck out 103 in 26 appearances in 2017. It took Withrow 25 appearances to sit down 100 would be base runners while Shelby Schultz has the opportunity to do so in just 19 appearances.
For the Redhawks, Vance (L, 6-5) took the circle after tossing the final two innings of Game 1. Vance also tossed a complete game but took the loss as she allowed all four runs (all earned) on five hits across six innings of work. She also walked four Texans while sitting down three.
The rubber match of the series is set for an 11 a.m. first pitch on Saturday as the game will air live on ESPN+. Live stats are also available for Texan nation. Tickets can be found here for those heading to the Tarleton State Softball Complex.
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