- Box Score

STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton (23-9, 8-1) was denied the sweep of No. 24 Abilene Christian Saturday afternoon, suffering a 7-2 loss at Tarleton Softball Complex.
 
The TexAnns still won the series by sweeping Friday's doubleheader, but dropped their first conference game of the season with the loss Saturday.
 
The teams found themselves in a pitcher's duel over the first three innings, despite having plenty of chances.
 
While ACU was strategically pitching around Katie Welborn, Tarleton stranded runners on first and second in the first and the third innings, while Abilene Christian had a lead-off base runner in each of the first three frames.
 
The Wildcats finally broke the scoreless affair in the top of the fourth with a two-run home run over the scoreboard in left center field.
 
ACU threatened again in the fifth when runners on first and third with one away chased Samantha Swanda from the game.
 
Randi Fentress came on in relief and ACU tacked on one more before Arianna Rodriguez bailed out the TexAnns with a diving catch behind third base, which she then flipped Welborn at third to double off the Wildcat runner.
 
Tarleton had another chance to score in the bottom of the sixth when Welborn drew her third intentional walk of the day and Swanda beat out an infield single to put runners on first and second with one away.
 
The TexAnns couldn't capitalize, however, as a foul pop and a hard line drive to center found the ACU gloves and ended the Tarleton rally.
 
Abilene added some insurance in the top of the seventh with a solo homer off the top of the left field wall, a two-out, two-run blast later in the inning and an RBI single to right after an error extended the inning.
 
A lead-off walk to Kelsey Latta and a hit by pitch to Tanner Pipkin with one out set up another chance for the TexAnns in the final frame, and Rodriguez drove a shot to the right center gap that fell out of the glove of the center fielder to plate a pair and end the shutout.
 
Swanda suffered her third loss of the season, pitching 4.1 innings allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk. Fentress pitched 2.2 innings of relief allowing four runs – three earned – on six hits and one walk.
 
Tarleton only managed three hits off the ACU pitcher. Alex Orf laced a single and a double while Swanda recorded the infield single. Tarleton's leading hitter, Welborn, was intentionally walked four times on the afternoon.
 
Tarleton will break from LSC play with a doubleheader Monday against Oklahoma Panhandle at 2 p.m. in Stephenville.