ABILENE – Tarleton State took care of business in Game 1 of the series scoring six unanswered including a two-run shot from Casey Schultz to secure the 6-3 marking the programs 29th win this season and the ninth-straight conference victory.
With the Casey Schultz blast in the top of the seventh in Game 1, it helped to secure her twin sisters 13th win of her collegiate career.
The nine-game conference win streak came to an end in Game 2 as the Wildcats won 2-0 due to a single pitch from the Texans being launched out of the ballpark for the lone scoring for either team in the nightcap. The nine-game streak does however set the new longest conference win streak in the Purple and White’s Division I era besting the six-game streak set in year two of Tarleton State’s reclassification.
Tarleton State 6 Abilene Christian 3
Game 1 of the series with the Wildcats got off to a rough start as the home team quickly jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first meaning the Texans needed to score at least four in hopes of keeping their conference win streak alive.
Good thing for Tarleton State was that the three runs in the first was all the scoring Abilene Christian did all game.
In the bottom of the first with two on, Valerie Ornelas took Shelby Schultz deep to right putting the Wildcats up 3-0 early on.
The following six innings all went the Texans’ way as the Purple and White scored six unanswered runs to win things 6-3.
In the bottom of the second, Hannah Reed collected her first of two hits and RBI’s as she doubled to center on a 3-2 count scoring Casey Schultz to make it 3-1.
The top of the fourth saw Reed’s partner in crime Hayden Fox reach on an error, allowing Jaelynn Duke to score on an error to make it a one-run game 3-2.
A pair of runs in the top of the fifth gave the Texans their only lead of the game and it was all they needed to secure the win. Casey Schultz doubled to right-center scoring Austin Germain and moving Duke just 60 feet away to tie things up 3-3. Reed then kept her bat hot as she singled to left scoring Duke to give Tarleton State the 4-3 advantage.
Casey Schultz unleashed everything she had in the top of the seventh sending a two-run shot over the scoreboard beyond the left field fence to put the Texans up 6-3.
For the Texans, Shelby Schultz (W, 13-3) tossed her sixth complete game of the year as she allowed three runs (all earned) on five hits. She also struck out four and walked just one. She now sits at 135 strikeouts, the most by any freshman for Tarleton State since at least 2017 (Jordan Withrow). The win marked the 13th win for Shelby Schultz putting her two above Withrow’s final win total of 11 her freshman season in 2017.
For the Wildcats, Ella Beeman (L, 2-6) took the loss as she went all seven innings allowing six runs (five earned) on 10 hits while she walked one and struck out three. She also hit two Texans as well.
Tarleton State 0 Abilene Christian 2
Game 2 of the series saw lots of series on the scoreboard as the Wildcats scored the lone two runs off a single pitch in the bottom half of the fifth.
The game-securing two-run shot for the home team came in the bottom of the fifth as Taylor Bachmeyer homered to left center to put the Wildcats up 2-0, the final.
Across seven innings of softball, there was just six hits combined between the two teams with Tarleton State having four of the six hits.
For the Texans, Hannah Blincoe (L, 9-9) earned the start as she took her ninth loss of the season moving to .500 on the season. During her five innings of work in the circle she allowed both runs (all earned) on just two hits while she struck out seven and walked two. Alexa Rehmeier then tossed the final inning for the Purple and White as she allowed not a single run or hit and struck out one.
For the Wildcats, Lina Russo went the distance moving to 7-16 on the season as she allowed no runs on four hits while she walked a pair and struck out six. She was also credited with a wild pitch.
Game three of the series has been moved up to 12 p.m. due to expected incoming weather in the Abilene area Saturday afternoon. The game will stream live on WAC International and Live Stats will also be available. WAC International is free for all to stream, only a free account with your email is required to stream.
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