GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Feb. 11, 2017) - Day Two of the North Texas Softball Bash proved to be slightly more favorable towards Texas Woman's University as the Pioneers concluded Saturday with a 3-2 win over Regis after falling 14-6 to fifth-ranked Southern Arkansas at Jennifer McFalls Park.
 
No. 5 Southern Arkansas 14, Texas Woman's 6
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Muleriders (5-0) tallied an RBI sacrifice fly in the second and added two runs on a home run by Maddie Dow in the third.
 
Nicole Nordie gave TWU their first score of the day on a home run to center field in the bottom of the third before SAU went to work in the fourth. A trio of walks loaded the bases, and a passed ball along with a batter being hit by a pitch made it a 5-1 contest. A single up the middle added another pair of runs, and a passed ball allowed another runner in before a strikeout ended the five-run inning, 8-1 in favor of SAU.
 
Alexis Elizondo bunted home Hazel Puempel to cut into the lead, 8-2, in the fourth. Dow knocked another homer to center field to up the score to 10-2 two innings later.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, the offense came alive for TWU beginning with a single up the middle by Puempel. Singles by Kaitlyn Johnson and Chelsie McClure preceded an RBI single up the middle to score Nicole Parnell. Nordie sailed a single up the middle for two TWU runs, and Katy Stephens sent a ball to left field to close the gap to 10-6.
 
Marina Duran of SAU smashed one over the left field fence on the first pitch in the seventh inning, and a double to right field added another to put the Muleriders up, 12-6. With the bases loaded and two outs, the Pioneers threw out a runner at second after two runs had crossed the plate for the 14-6 advantage.
 
Tori Bice (1-3) took the loss with eight runs on three hits, six walks and four strikeouts.
 
Texas Woman's 3, Regis 2
 
Nordie recorded the first hit of the game with a single through the left side in the bottom of the first. Stephens pushed Nordie to second with a single to the shortstop, and Puempel's single to the pitcher advanced Stephens to second, but the Rangers threw Nordie out at third before a foul out and strikeout ended the frame.
 
Abby Walker retired the first two Ranger batters in the top of the third, but a TWU fielding error put a runner on second. A single and double brought around the first scores of the game to put Regis up 2-0.
 
Stephens walked in the bottom of the third, and Puempel doubled to right center to move Stephens to third. Bice ripped a double to right center to score Stephens and Puempel to knot the game at 2-2.
 
The Pioneers (5-4) nearly took the lead in the bottom of the fifth after Nordie bunted for a single and stole second base. A bunt single by Puempel put Nordie on third, and Puempel made her way to second by way of a steal. Bice placed down another bunt, but Nordie was caught near home plate, and a groundout concluded the inning.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Alexis Elizondo drew a walk and moved to second on a Morgan Harrison single to left center. Parnell grounded out but moved the runners each up a base, and a , Solomon double up the middle brought Elizondo around for the 3-2 lead. The Rangers tallied a walk in the top of the seventh but the final out was recorded at second base.
 
Walker (2-1) registered the win with five hits, one walk and five strikeouts.
 
The Pioneers compete in the final day of The Bash tomorrow with games against Northwestern Oklahoma State at 10 a.m. and Oklahoma Panhandle State at 2 p.m.