After a five-inning win against Northwestern State 30 minutes prior, No. 2 Texas softball dominated against Tarleton State in a 17-0 win, bringing their season record up to 16-1. 

The Longhorns scored at least one run in every inning, enacting the mercy rule after five innings.

The entire batting order got the chance to step up to the plate in the first inning, as sophomore catcher Reese Atwood, sophomore infielder Leighann Goode, junior infielder Katie Cimusz, and sophomore outfielder Ashton Maloney brought runners home. 

The first inning ended 5-0, showcasing the Longhorn’s ability to capitalize on base hits, specifically with hits up the middle. 

“Our goal today was: hit the ball hard both games,” Head Coach Mike White said. 

And Texas did just that. 

At the start of the second inning, freshman outfielder Kayden Henry stepped up to the plate and hit a solo home run on the first pitch. 

Goode got her third RBI of the game with a ball that allowed freshman Adayah Wallace to score. Coming back from an injury, Goode hit scored runs and five RBIs in four at-bats. 

“Just getting back out there, seeing the ball well, and putting the ball in play, it feels really good,” Goode said. “[I’m] not trying to overcomplicate things by trying to get back into it.”

Then, senior shortstop Alyssa Washington hit a two-run home run with a ball that went over the wall in centerfield.

Up by nine runs, head coach Mike White started putting in players that don’t get to see the diamond as often. 

Freshman infielder Ryan Brown stepped up to the plate at the bottom of the second. In the three innings she played, Brown hit two fly outs and was walked. 

“I’ve always tried to do that throughout my coaching career,” White said. “You want to give them opportunities to show what they can do and you never know down the road when you might need them.”

Junior utility Vanessa Quiroga also got to bat, recording a double after hitting a ball into the left field that went over the outfielder’s glove.

After their massive victory against Tarleton State, Texas has the confidence and momentum to get them through the rest of the weekend, with games against Hofstra on Saturday and Sunday.

“You always hope it’s going to be a momentum builder or change,” White said. “But right now we have enough pieces in place where we can plug and play, so that’s the luxury we have.”