Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 TUCSON, Ariz. (Feb. 7) – The TWU softball team split on the second day of the NFCA Division II Lead-Off Classic in Tucson, AZ.  The Pioneers defeated Colorado Mesa, 10-1, in six innings in pool play to capture their first win of the season before falling to Metro State, 4-3, in the Silver Championship Bracket.
 
In game one against Colorado Mesa, the Pioneers used a four-run fourth inning and a five-run sixth inning to capture a run-rule win.  After a scoreless first, TWU took a 1-0 lead in the second.  Senior Kendra Sancet led off the inning with a single and came around to score on a single by sophomore Katy Stephens.  The Pioneers batted around in the fourth to make it 5-0.  Sophomore Tori Bice and Sancet drew back-to-back walks to start the inning and sophomore Alyssa Galaz doubled to drive in a run.  Freshman Bobbi Jones brought home the second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly.  Three batters later, senior Sarah Wittenburg drove in two more runs on a single.
 
In the fifth inning, TWU sent eight batters to the plate and used back-to-back home runs by Bice and Sancet to score five runs.  After a RBI double by junior Laura Mabary and a one-out RBI single by freshman Tylia Sylestine, Bice blasted a two-run shot over the fence.  Sancet followed Bice with her first home run of the season and 43rd of her career.
 
Colorado Mesa scored its only run in the fourth inning.  Bice started in the circle and tossed a complete-game for her first win with the Pioneers.
 
After posting a 1-2 record in pool play, TWU advanced to the Silver Championship Bracket and faced Metro State.
 
The Roadrunners scored a run in the second and two more in the third to take a 3-0 lead.  The Pioneers cut the deficit to one with two runs in the top of the fourth.  Sophomore Nicole Nordie doubled to drive in both runs with one out.  Freshman Sydney Hester crossed the plate from second while Galaz scored from first.
 
After a scoreless fourth, Metro State added a run in the fifth to make it 4-2.  TWU again cut the deficit to one with a run in the top of the sixth.  Galaz scored her second run of the game on a ground out.  The Pioneers put the tying run on base with one out in the top of the seventh but stranded the runner at first base.
 
"We played well today but lost a tough one against Metro State," said TWU head coach Genny Stidham.  "Our offense scored lot of runs against Colorado Mesa and Tori pitched a good game.  The girls rallied after falling behind against Metro but could not get the tying run."
 
The Pioneers will play two more games on Sunday, Feb. 7.  TWU will face Molly in the first game at 9:00 a.m. (CST).  The opponent for the second game will be determined after the first game.