SAN ANGELO, Texas (Mar. 19) – The TWU softball team went back and forth with No. 21 Angelo State in both games of the doubleheader and split the two games at Mayer Field.  The Pioneers dropped the first game in extra innings, 6-5 (8), before rallying for a 7-6 win in second.
 
In game one ASU scored a run in the bottom of the first but the Pioneers took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third.  After a double-steal tied the game, freshman Melanie Stephens' two-out single brought home more two runs.
 
The Rambelles got one back in the bottom of the third and tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth.  After a scoreless sixth TWU went on top 4-3 on a RBI double by sophomore Amanda Gray.  ASU sent the game to extra innings with a run in the bottom of the seventh on a one-out triple and a sacrifice fly.
 
The Pioneers again took the lead with a run in the top of the eight.  Junior Logan Polasek's two-out triple put TWU on top 4-5.  The Rambelles tied the game with a bases loaded walk and later scored the game-winning run on a two-out single.
 
In the second game the Pioneers took an early 1-0 lead on a junior Nicole Nordie's solo home run in the top of the first.  ASU tied the game in the bottom of the first before taking a 3-1 lead in the second on a two-run home run.
 
TWU tied the game in the third on a two-out two-RBI double by Nordie.  The Rambelles responded in the bottom of the third to regain the lead 4-3.  After a scoreless fourth, the Pioneers again tied the game on a two-out RBI single by senior Laura Mabary in the fifth.  ASU again went back on top with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.
 
TWU rallied in the top of the seventh with three unearned runs to take a 7-6 lead.  Nordie made it 6-5 with a RBI fielder's choice and Mabary tied the game with RBI triple.  Gray put the Pioneers on top with a sacrifice fly.
 
"We battled both games and happy with the split," said TWU head coach Genny Stidham.  "I am proud of the girls for rallying back to win the second game after a tough loss in the first.  Laura continues to be a tough out at the plate and Tealey is getting on base when we need her.  Nordie came up big in the second game with four runs batted in."
 
Mabary finished the doubleheader 5-for-6 with two runs and two RBI while Farquhar went 5-for-9 with four runs.  Nordie finished the day 3-or-8 with four RBI.
 
The Pioneers will return to action when they wrap-up the four-game series with Angelo State on Sunday, Mar. 20.  The doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.