COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Tarleton fought to the very end on Saturday afternoon, and the fight saw them come out victorious for the first time in the 2023 season.
The Texans (1-3) defeated the Northern Kentucky University Norse (1-3) 6-5 at Davis Diamond.
NKU started the game off scoring four runs in the top of the first inning, putting the Texans in a hole early. They chased Tarleton starting pitcher
Tristan Bridges with the score sitting at 2-0 and the bases loaded. The Norse were able to get two more runs in on a fielder's choice followed by an error after
Grace Garcia entered for the Texans.
Tarleton promptly answered in the bottom half, plating four runs of their own.
Kelci Hill got things started with an RBI triple hit to right center field that scored
Kayla Wallace.
Katy Schaefer then stepped to the plate and delivered, doubling to right field to score Hill.
Tristyn Trull followed that up with an RBI single down the right field line, scoring Schaefer.
Ashlee LaRue then singled through the right side to score
Austin Germain and just like that the score was knotted up at four.
Garcia (W, 1-0) proceeded to shut down NKU. She pitched the remainder of the game for the Texans, striking out eight, walking two and allowing five hits. She picked up the win in 7.0 innings pitched, her first as a Texan.
The Texans broke the tie in the third inning as Trull singled down the right field line for a second time, this time scoring Germain who walked to get on base. The Texans held the 5-4 lead from there.
The Norse responded in the top half of the seventh. Sydni Barnes reached on a Texan error and Trinity Robertson hit a double with Barnes reaching third base. Tatum Biddle found a way to hit in Barnes with an infield single to shortstop and the Norse tied the game at five. Garcia was able to get a strikeout and induce a ground out that she handled to get out of the inning.
In the bottom half, Wallace singled through the right side to lead things off for Tarleton. Hill then stepped to the plate and came through with the most important swing of the day for the Texans, doubling to right field and scoring Wallace to give the Texans their first win this season.
NKU's Madisyn Eads (L, 1-2) was credited with the loss after throwing 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on five hits.
Hill led the Texans with three hits and two RBI. Germain finished with two walks.
Tarleton concludes their stay at the Texas A&M Invitational on Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m. as they take on old rival Texas A&M-Commerce. The game can be followed via live stats as well as @TarletonSB on Twitter and @TarletonSoftball on Instagram.
