GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Feb. 10, 2017) - Texas Woman's University opened the North Texas Softball Bash in difficult fashion with two losses against teams from the Heartland Conference in a 6-4 loss to Oklahoma Christian and a heartbreaking 5-4 defeat from Lubbock Christian by way of a walk-off grand slam Friday afternoon at Jennifer McFalls Park.
 
Oklahoma Christian 6, Texas Woman's 4
 
OC (5-2) posted on the board first in the bottom of the first by way of two walks and a single to third base by Bridget White that brought around two runs. Katy Stephens earned a walk for the Pioneers, and Tylia Sylestine doubled to left field to bring Stephens in to cut the deficit to 2-1. Sylestine advanced to third on a passed ball but remained there following a pair of outs.
 
White made her presence known again in the bottom of the third with a three-run homer to up OC's lead to 5-1. The Lady Eagles added one more run in the fourth that began with a double to left field. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases before a popup to third allowed a runner to squeak in.
 
TWU singles by Tara Solomon and Stephens preceded a walk to Sylestine to load the bases for Tori Bice who came through with a single up the middle to score Soloman. Hazel Puempel then sent a single up the middle to bring around Katy Stephens, and Sylestine was able to make it in on a Chelsie McClure groundout to cut the lead to 6-4.
 
In the top of the sixth, Soloman tallied a single to place herself on first base with Morgan Harrison on second as the tying run and Melanie Stephens on third, but a groundout ended the scoring chances. Singles by Bice and Puempel kept TWU alive in the seventh, but two final outs eliminated the Pioneers.
 
Bice (1-2) took the loss for TWU on five runs, five hits and three walks.
 
Lubbock Christian 5, Texas Woman's 4
 
LCU's Courtney Medina started off the bottom of the first inning with a walk before stealing second, then making her way to third on a groundout and finally sprinting home on a wild pitch for a 1-0 Lady Chap lead.
 
In the fourth, Nicole Nordie singled to shortstop and stole second before Alexis Elizondo doubled to deep left field to bring Nordie in and tie the game at 1-1. Sylestine provided more Pioneer offense by placing the ball near the left foul pole to score Katy Stephens and take the lead. Nordie sent a single to the center field fence to bring home two more for a 4-1 Pioneer advantage.
 
The Pioneers (4-2) loaded the bases in the sixth, but Lady Chap Katera Eltsosie struck out three straight to conclude the frame. TWU again had scoring chances in the seventh with Nordie on third and Nicole Parnell on second, but the Pioneers tallied their third out on another strikeout.
 
Abby Walker had not allowed a Lady Chap hit until the seventh inning when Sydney Buethien doubled down the left field line. Walker sent the next batter out swinging before giving up a walk and a single to load the bases. LCU nearly recorded the game-winning run but Walker threw to Melanie Stephens at the plate to force out Beuthien with three runners remaining on base. Averi Miller then stepped up with two outs and sent a bomb over the left field fence on her second pitch to record the walk-off grand slam.
 
Walker (2-1) suffered the loss on three hits, four walks and 10 strikeouts, the highest single-game strikeout total from an LSC pitcher this season.
 
The Pioneers return to The Bash tomorrow for games against Southern Arkansas at 11 and Regis at 3 p.m.