PHOENIX – Tarleton fell in the rubber match on Saturday against one of the top teams in the WAC, losing 12-0 in five innings against the Grand Canyon Lopes.
 
GCU (28-5, 4-2 WAC) scored four in the first and held control throughout, taking the series at the GCU Softball Stadium in Phoenix 2-1. Tarleton (18-6, 3-3 WAC) split their six-game road trip to start conference play.
 
Tristan Bridges (5-8) was tagged with the loss, allowing four earned runs on two hits, two walks and a hit batter in 0.1 IP. Kennedy Ferguson, Makenzie Dunbar and Grace Garcia all pitched in relief. The Lopes scored one in the second, two in the third and five in the fourth for the win.
 
The Texans had four hits in the game, with Austin Germain leading by going 2-for-2. Morgan Medford and Sage Harlow each had a knock as well.
 
Tarleton now returns home for a doubleheader against Grambling State on Tuesday, beginning at 1 p.m. CT. It will be the Texans' first game at the Tarleton Softball Complex in two weeks.