Tarleton State travels west for I-20 rivalry, schedule changed at ACU to Friday doubleheader, single game Saturday

ABILENE, Texas - Tarleton State is headed west riding their eight-game conference win streak looking to keep things rolling as the Texans are now set to play a pair on Friday before closing out the series on Saturday.

The eight-game conference win streak sets the new mark to beat in the Texans Division I era as the previous best of six-straight conference wins was set in year two of the Texans four-year reclassification to Division I.

Tarleton State was originally scheduled to play a single game on Friday followed by the final two games on Saturday but due to the impending threat of weather on Saturday evening, a doubleheader will now be played on Friday followed by Game 3 on Saturday.

In the last 16 games the Texans have outscored their opponents 93-37 averaging just over 5.81 runs per game. Across the 16 matchups, Tarleton State has scored five or more runs eight different times.

This past Wednesday, the Purple and White remained ranked in the top-25 as they were ranked No. 20 in D1 Softball's Week 10 mid-major rankings moving up four spots from their No. 24 spot in Week 9.

With the Texans at No. 20, the WAC has just one other member ranked in the top-25 through nine weeks of play. Grand Canyon sits in the No. 1 spot. Tarleton State is responsible for both of the Lopes two conference losses.

In week seven of the season, the Texans headed west to Phoenix for the first time since 2023 looking to avenge their last trip to the Lopes when they fell in the series 1-2. No. 24/RV GCU came into the three-game series with a perfect conference record of 2-0 after game three of the Lope's series with Utah Valley was cut short due to winter weather. The squad from Phoenix finished the weekend with a conference record of 3-2 and an overall record of 23-6.

Tarleton State handed Grand Canyon bookend losses shutting out the Lopes 3-0 in Game 1 followed by an impressive 5-2 rubber match victory in Game 3 to secure the series. The 3-0 win in Game 1 marks just the second time the Lopes have been shutout this season with the first coming at the hands of then No. 8 Oregon on Feb. 15, 2025, when they were shutout 4-0. Both shutouts this season have come on home turf for the squad from Phoenix.

After securing the series win with the 5-2 victory, the Texans not only earned their first ever conference series over the Lopes but handed GCU their first home series loss since 2022 and their first conference series loss (home or away) since 2023.

With a successful road trip out west complete, Tarleton State returned home to the friendly confines of the Tarleton State Softball Complex. The Purple and White welcomed the Red and Black from Seattle U to town and gave Texan Nation plenty to cheer about. The Redhawks came into the weekend with a perfect 6-0 conference record but the Red and Black didn't leave the Ville with a perfect conference record.

After a combined 18 runs in Game 1 of the series, Seattle U took the opening game of the series moving to 7-0 inside Western Athletic Conference Play. With a Game 1 loss, the Texans had to win two straight to secure their second-straight conference series. Tarleton State did just that handing Seattle U their first two conference losses as the Purple and White took Game 2 4-2 followed by a 10-2 (5) run-rule walk-off in Game 3 to secure series wins over the top-two teams in the conference in back-to-back weeks.

In week 10 of the season, Tarleton State kicked things off with a 6-3 revenge win over the Mean Green from North Texas in Stephenville after falling to the Green and White in Denton earlier this season. The Texans then continued their conference hot streak sweeping Utah Valley 3-0 to end a 4-0 week at home.

Through just over 10 weeks, the Texans have multiple athletes leaving their mark nationally. Austin German currently sits fifth in the nation in doubles with 17 on the season and leads the WAC. With her 17 doubles through 41 games, she ranks sixth in doubles per game in the nation. With all the offensive power from Germain, she is the third toughest to strike out in the nation as she strikes out just once every 64 plate appearances. Germain sits 48th in the nation in batting average hitting .438 and sits No. 3 in the WAC.

Other Texans top in the nation include who has caught 16 base runners stealing which puts her fifth in the nation and leads all of the WAC. Hill also sits 52nd in the nation in batting average hitting .436

On the pitching side of things, continues to pound the strike zone as she sits 28th in the nation in strikeouts with 131 thus far and leads the WAC. She also ranks 21st in strikeouts per seven innings at 9.2 and leads WAC. Schultz also sits 21st in the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio.

In the WAC, the Purple and White continue to hold two of the top-four spots in batting average as Germain leads the Texans ranking third in the conference hitting .438. Hill sits fourth hitting .436. As a team, Tarleton State is in the top-three of 19 different statistical categories in the WAC. The Texans lead the WAC in team strikeouts per seven innings (6.78) and walks (165).

First pitch on Friday is set for 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Game 3 of the series is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. The entire three-game series is set to air live on WAC International. WAC International is free for fans to stream, only a free account is needed. Live Stats are available for all three games.

Following the Texans midweek matchup with the Red and White, Tarleton State will head back on the road to Abilene Christian for another weekend WAC series.

For the latest news on the Texans, follow Tarleton Softball on Facebook, Instagram and X @tarletonsoftball.