STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Host Tarleton State churned out five runs over the first two innings to go on to claim an 8-1 win over Lafayette on day one of the Whataburger Invitational.
 
In the first, singles by Tarleton's Katy Schaefer and Tristyn Trull gave the host's offense all it would need. The Texans grew their lead to 5-0 by the end of the second as Ashlee LaRue led off with a home run and Brady Rowland delivered an RBI-single with runners at the corner.
 
The Leopards pushed across their only run of the game in the fourth inning. Freshman Katie Harrington singled and later scored on junior Mary Grace O'Neill's fielder's choice to make it 5-1.
 
That was as close as the Leopards came. Tarleton added two in the home half of the fourth and then a final tally in the sixth.
 
Senior Paige Sandidge led the Leopards with two of their eight hits in the afternoon contest.
 
In the circle, Lafayette head coach Karavin Dew went with Morrigan Gardiner to start. Gardiner threw the first inning and a third before being relieved by senior Kailee Sawai and freshman Parker Rowden who combined to tossed the final 4.2 innings. For TSU, Alexa Rehmier struck out six, while allowing one run on eight hits.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
The Leopards will play two more on Saturday, facing Buffalo at 10:30 a.m. and Tarleton State at 12:45 p.m. ET