SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Feb. 20) – The TWU softball team dropped two games on the opening day of the Rattler Invitational in San Antonio, TX. The Pioneers fell to Oklahoma Christian, 3-0, before losing to #13 Central Oklahoma, 6-3.
In the first game against Oklahoma Christian, the Pioneers' offense struggled as they left 10 runners on base. TWU managed just three hits but had seven other base runners on three walks, three hit batters and one error. The Pioneers had runners in scoring positing in five of the seven innings but could not get a timely hit. TWU's biggest threat came in the sixth when the Pioneers loaded the bases with one out, but a fielder's choice and line-out ended the inning. In the second game, Central Oklahoma jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on two hits and two walks. After a scoreless second inning, the Bronchos added two more in the third on a two-run home run to make it 5-0. The Pioneers got one back in the game in the top of the fourth inning on a RBI ground out by sophomore Alyssa Galaz. Senior Kendra Sancet walked with one out and came around to score after a wild pitch, a single and Galaz's ground out. UCO added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a solo home run to make it 6-1. The Pioneers scored their final two runs in the seventh inning. TWU sent eight batters to plate and added the runs on a RBI ground out by junior Tealey Farquhar and a RBI single by freshman Ashley Gordon. Junior Taylor Beeman and freshman Alexis Elizondo scored the Pioneers' runs. "We pitched well for the most part today but our offense struggled," said TWU head coach Genny Stidham. "We put runners on base and got them into scoring position but could not get that key hit to drive them in. We need to bounce back (tomorrow and Sunday) like we did last weekend after losing the first two games on Friday." The Pioneers will play two more games on Saturday at the Rattler Invitational. TWU will face Oklahoma Christian again at 12:00 p.m. before taking on Texas A&M-International at 2:00 p.m.
