MAGNOLIA, Ark. (Feb. 7) – The TWU softball team dropped both games on the final day at SAU Softball Invitational.  The Pioneers fell to Delta State, 12-8, before dropping a 10-1 decision to the host Southern Arkansas in five innings.
 
In game one against Delta State, the Pioneers fell behind 3-0 in the top of the first inning after the Lady Statesmen started the game with three doubles and a single.  TWU got one back in the bottom of the inning to make it 3-1 on a RBI double by junior Nicole Nordie. 
 
DSU scored two unearned runs in the second and six more unearned runs in the third to take an 11-1 lead.  The Pioneers regrouped and started a comeback.  TWU scored a run in the bottom of the third on a RBI single by sophomore Amanda Gray and then added two unearned runs in the fourth to make it 11-4. 
 
After a scoreless fifth, the Lady Statesmen added a run in the sixth to make it 12-4.  The Pioneers answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.  Junior Logan Polasek and sophomore Sydney Hester both picked up a RBI.
 
TWU scored a run in the seventh on a RBI grounder by senior Tealey Farquhar to make it 12-8.  The Pioneers put two more runners on base but could not bring the tying run to the plate as they fell by four runs.
 
Polasek finished the game with two RBI while junior Katie Hickey came in relief and tossed four innings.  Hickey struck out three batters while allowing one run.
 
In the second game against SAU, TWU scored the first run but it was all the home team after that as the Muleriders scored 10 runs.  Farquhar led off the game with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Polasek followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
 
SAU tied the game in the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run and then took a 2-1 lead in the second.  The Muleriders added four in the third, one in the fourth and walked off with three-run home run in the fifth inning.
 
"We struggled with our pitching in both games today," said TWU head coach Genny Stidham.  "We tried to come back in the first game but we already dig ourselves a big hole.  We still had a good weekend with four wins.  Lot of positives and we will build on those.  We will work on the mistakes in practice next week."
 
The Pioneers will return to action when they travel to Canyon, TX, to play in the WT Invitational.  TWU will St. Mary's, Adams State, Fort Lewis, Lubbock Christian and Colorado State-Pueblo.