- Box Score: Game 1

- Box Score: Game 2

KINGSVILLE – Tarleton (3-2) dropped its second one-run game of the season in the opener of the Kingsville Invitational Tournament, but bounced back to claim an extra inning victory to earn the split in the opening day Friday.
   
Despite a first-inning run, Kirby Crow and Randi Fentress combined to pitch a solid game for the TexAnns against Texas A&M-International Friday.
 
The Tarleton bats just couldn't get anything going offensively as Tarleton dropped its second game of the season 1-0. The only other loss was also by a 1-0 score last weekend.
 
Crow got the starting nod for the TexAnns and after getting the first two outs of the game, a Dustdevil double followed by a single to left field scored the first – and only – run of the ball game.
 
In the bottom of the first, Abigail Tammen reached on a bunt single to start the Tarleton offense. Tammen, however, was forced to leave the game due to a back injury.
 
Marcie Rodriguez took over for Tammen and immediately stole second base. A fielder's choice by Kelsey Latta moved the senior to third with just one away.
 
Katie Welborn flied out to right field, but Rodriguez was gunned down at home trying to tie the game.
 
Tarleton got a one-out double in the third by Alexandria Orf and a lead-off double in the fourth by Latta but was unable to get any runs across.
 
“We just never got the bats going,” said head coach Julie Mata. “Our pitching was very solid against a good hitting team and that was very good to see.”
 
Crow went four innings allowing one run on three hits and a walk while striking out four. Fentress finished the game with three scoreless innings of one-hit ball and five strikeouts.
 
Tammen (single), Orf (double), Latta (double) and Arianna Rodriguez (single) recorded the only TexAnn hits of the game.
   
In the nightcap, Tarleton needed extra innings to take down Southern Arkansas but prevailed with a 2-run eighth inning to earn the split and the 4-3 win.
 
Much like the earlier game, Tarleton found themselves trailing 1-0 after one.
 
SAU pieced together a walk and back-to-back singles in the bottom of the first inning to grab a quick 1-0 lead. Another RBI single in the third inning gave SAU a 2-0 lead.
 
Tarleton finally got the bats going in the fourth inning as freshman Tanner Pipkin started a two-out, two-run rally. Pipkin singled before Shelby Tinklepaugh and Marcie drew back-to-back walks to load the bases.
 
Orf drove in Pipkin's pinch runner, Eryn Freitas, and Tinklepaugh to tie the game at 2-2. This was Orf's second hit of the game after a lead-off double in the third.
 
Both pitching staffs buckled down through the next two and a half innings, forcing the extra time.
 
In the top of the eighth, Welborn was placed on second to begin the inning and immediately pulled for pinch runner Stephanie Kelley.
 
After a smash to the wall by Arianna put a pair of runners in scoring position, Courtney Vroman doubled to left center to drive in the two go-ahead runs.
 
SAU got one run across in the bottom of the seventh on a fielder's choice, but Tarleton went on to victory.
 
“It was an incredibly exciting game,” said Mata. “(Samantha Swanda) threw great and Amber (Sotelo) kept their runners in check. Marcie made two great catches in the outfield, Al (Orf) robbed a hit in the eighth and Arianna and Courtney came up with two big hits in the eight. It was just a great win for us.”
 
Swanda pitched all eight innings allowing three runs on three hits and six walks while striking out five.
 
Orf and Pipkin each had two hits while Arianna, Vroman, and Tinklepaugh had one hit each. Orf and Vroman each had two RBIs.
 
Tarleton returns to action Saturday morning for a 9 a.m. meeting with Southeastern Oklahoma before waiting until 9 p.m. for a matchup with Southern Nazarene.