Greenville, S.C. – The Furman softball team suffered its first loss of the 2022 season on Saturday evening after falling 10-3 to the Tarleton State Texans on day two of the Paladin Invitational from Pepsi Stadium.
The Paladins drop to 2-1 on the season while Tarleton State improves to 4-0 overall.
Ashlee Lykins and
Natalie Morgan led Furman with two hits apiece while
Riley Ludlam and
Shelby Basso both had one RBI.
Morgan Medford led all players with three hits for the Texans while Amanda DeSario, Brady Rowland and Katy Schaefer all drove in two runs. Miranda Pruitt and Tristyn Trull contributed one RBI.
Tristan Bridges (2-0) earned the win in the circle throwing four innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits, one walk and seven strikeouts.
Sierra Tufts (1-1) took the loss allowing seven runs (three earned) on eight hits, three walks and one strikeout. Kennedy Ferguson (1) picked up the save pitching three scoreless innings of relief and registered four strikeouts.
Tarleton State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead before Basso tied the score with her two-out RBI single that brought home Lykins. The Paladins added another run in the bottom of the third to take a 2-1 lead when Lykins led off the frame with a walk and scored the next at-bat on Ludlam's RBI double to left center field.
The Texans broke the game open in the top of the fourth, scoring six times to go ahead 7-2. Rowland led off the inning with a home run to left field and DeSario contributed a two-RBI double to center field.
Furman cut its deficit down to 7-3 in the bottom of the fourth when
Chloe Fabio, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored from second base after Lykins singled to center field and Tarleton State committed a throwing error.
Tarleton State extended its lead to 10-3 following a two-run sixth inning and adding a single run in the top of the seventh. Schaefer drove in both runs during the sixth on her homer to center field. A Paladin error in the seventh led to the Texans' lone run.
Furman concludes play at the Paladin Invitational on Sunday afternoon when it hosts Bellarmine at 2 p.m.