STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State Softball battled by means of an emotional championship Saturday on the 2026 WAC Softball Tournament, splitting a pair of video games in opposition to top-seeded California Baptist within the championship spherical earlier than ending as the match runner-up on the Tarleton State Softball Complex.
The Texans opened the day with a 6-4 victory over the Lancers to pressure a winner-take-all remaining earlier than California Baptist claimed the match championship with an 8-2 win within the decisive sport. Tarleton State closed the season with a 38-23 general file after one of many strongest campaigns in this system’s NCAA Division I period.
Tarleton State 6, California Baptist 4
Tarleton State wasted no time responding within the first championship matchup after California Baptist opened the sport with two runs within the prime of the primary inning.
Mariah Debose opened the day with a stroll, and Macie Vickers adopted with a single. After Jaelynn Duke was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Casey Schultz delivered the largest swing of the afternoon with a grand slam to place the Texans in entrance 4-2 within the backside of the primary.
Later within the inning, Braylin Pannill doubled earlier than Addison Wittram drove her in with an RBI single to increase the Tarleton State result in 5-2 after one inning.
California Baptist answered with a run within the second inning to chop the deficit to 5-3, however the Texans responded once more within the third as Pannill launched a solo house run to proper subject to make it 6-3.
The Lancers added one other run within the fifth inning and threatened a number of occasions late, however Tarleton State’s protection and pitching workers held agency. Shelby Schultz entered in reduction throughout the second inning and delivered 5.2 innings to earn the victory, permitting only one run whereas stranding a number of California Baptist runners over the ultimate frames.
Pannill completed 2-for-3 with a house run, double and two runs scored, whereas Casey Schultz drove in 4 runs together with her first-inning grand slam. Debose, Vickers and Wittram every added a success within the win.
California Baptist 8, Tarleton State 2
In the winner-take-all championship sport later Saturday afternoon, California Baptist struck shortly with a two-run house run within the opening inning earlier than including one other run to take an early 3-0 benefit.
The Texans obtained on the board within the second inning when Pannill related on one other solo house run, trimming the deficit to 3-1.
California Baptist broke the sport open within the third inning with 5 runs on 5 hits, highlighted by a three-run triple, to increase its result in 8-1.
Tarleton State added its remaining run within the fifth inning after Casey Schultz walked and pinch runner Mikaila Gilliland later scored on an RBI single from Madison Runyan. The Texans threatened to increase the inning after Alyssa Budisalovich drew a stroll and Runyan superior into scoring place, however California Baptist escaped the jam to keep up management.
Pannill accounted for one in every of Tarleton State’s two hits within the championship finale together with her second house run of the day, whereas Runyan added the Texans’ different hit and RBI.
Despite the loss, Tarleton State capped off a historic season with 38 wins, a berth within the WAC Tournament championship spherical and this system’s deepest postseason run since transitioning to Division I.