STEPHENVILLE, Texas - The No. 1 Angelo State softball rebounded with a 9-2 win over Tarleton State to take the series finale on Saturday in Stephenville.
The Rambelles (36-4, 15-3 LSC) out hit the TexAnns (29-14, 13-8 LSC) 9-6 and scored their first runs in 20 innings. TSU was held to just two runs and gave up twp home runs.
ASU had a chance to score in the top of the first with the bases loaded and two outs. TSU's Haley Freyman got a check swing third strike for the final out of the inning.
Brandy Marlett got the start and held the TexAnns hitless in the first two innings.
It looked like ASU would go down in order in the third but Bailey Wallace kept the inning alive with a two-out single to left field. Courtney Barnhill ripped a double to right center with the next at-bat to give Angelo State 1-0 advantage. Becky Wilhelm drew a walk to put runners on at first and second. Taegan Kirk hit a slow roller up the middle that allowed Barnhill to score from second and she would beat a throw to second on a Dane Bina fielder's choice. Alexis Evans, who pinch ran for Wilhelm, caught TSU sleeping to score on the play. Amanda Ramage kept the inning going with a RBI single up the middle. The TSU center fielder committed a throwing error to allow Bina to score from first and put ASU up 5-0.
Tarleton State was able to get on the board in the bottom of the third with a solo home run and added a run in the fourth to make it 5-2. TSU had the bases loaded but Ramage took a grounder and threw it home followed by Kirk getting the runner out first for an inning ending double play.
Alexis Evans led off the fifth with a bang. The senior sent a crushing ball over the center field fence for her fifth of the season.
Marlett got through the fifth and sixth without any harm before the Rambelles added to their lead. Barnhill hit ASU's second home run of the day. The freshman's two-run home run is her 10th of the season. She finished the day going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI. Ramage added her second RBI of the day with a single to right field to score Evans for a 9-2 advantage.
Morgan Hill came in to pitch in the ninth and only gave up a leadoff single before ended the game with two strikeouts and a grounder. Marlett earned her 18th win of the season by striking out six batters and only giving up two earned runs on five hits.
The Rambelles will head to Texas A&M International for a midweek non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 5 before hosting Midwestern State at Mayer Field starting on Friday, April 7.
