DENTON, Texas (March 29, 2017) - Four runs by Texas Woman's University in the bottom of the sixth aided the Pioneers in a 7-4 win over third-ranked St. Mary's in game one of a doubleheader Wednesday evening at Pioneer Field while the Rattlers took the second contest by the same score, 7-4.
 
Texas Woman's 7, No. 3 St. Mary's 4
 
Each team put a run on the board in the first, highlighted by a home run blast by Nicole Nordie for her fourth bomb on the season. The Pioneers (21-15, 9-8 Lone Star) took their first lead in the next inning by quickly loading the bases on an Alexis Elizondo bunt, a single up the middle by Abby Walker and a walk to Morgan Harrison. An RBI by Tara Solomon scored Elizondo for a 2-1 TWU edge.
 
The Rattlers (26-7, 5-1 Heartland), who moved up to third in the NFCA Poll Wednesday, regained the lead in the fifth via a two-run shot over the left center field fence, but the advantage was short-lived. Hazel Puempel sent a single up the middle and made it to third with the help of a wild pitch. Tylia Sylestine made it to first on a Rattler error while Puempel had enough time to make it home and tie up the contest at 3-3.
 
Singles by Harrison and Solomon followed by a walk to Nordie filled the bases in the bottom of the sixth. A single to right field by Stephens handed the lead back to the Pioneers at 4-3 as Harrison scored. A wild pitch allowed Solomon to make it home, and a walk to Puempel prompted a pitching change by St. Mary's. The adjustment did not faze Tori Bice as she put up an RBI single to increase the margin to 6-3. A walk to Elizondo with runners on all bases prompted the fourth run of the inning to put the Pioneers up by four.
 
The Rattlers cashed in a home run in the top of the seventh with two outs accounted for to cut the lead to 7-4, but Walker struck out a final Rattler batter for the win.
 
Walker (11-5) took the victory with one run on a hit and two strikeouts.
 
No. 3 St. Mary's 7, Texas Woman's 4
 
In the top of the fourth, a St. Mary's hitter singled to left field and made it to second on a sacrifice bunt. Another single, this time to right field, brought the runner around to put the Rattlers up 1-0.
 
Nordie notched a single in the bottom of the fourth to up her consecutive streak of games with a hit to 18 to tie a TWU program record. A sacrifice bunt by Stephens pushed her to second, but Nordie was ultimately abandoned at third on out number three.
 
St. Mary's upped their lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth with a runner on first and two outs reported. A fly ball was dropped in the outfield to score a Rattler before a pop out left a runner stranded on second.
 
Elizondo reached first on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the fifth before stealing second. A hit by Walker fell between three St. Mary's outfielders allowing Elizondo to run to third and Walker making it to second on the throw. A bunt by Harrison gave Elizondo a chance to score, but she was deemed out at the plate. A wild pitch advanced Harrison to second and scored Parnell to cut St. Mary's lead to 2-1. Kaitlin Johnson reached first on a Rattler error and Harrison moved up to third, but both runners were left on base after a third Pioneer out.
 
St. Mary's began the seventh with a triple to right field, and an RBI single brought in the runner for a 3-1 Rattler lead. A single to right field brought in two runs before a double to left field added another pair for a 7-1 St. Mary's lead.
 
Elizondo reached by way of a St. Mary's error in the bottom half of the inning and advanced to second before heading to third on a wild pitch. A single to left field by Harrison brought Elizondo in, and a single by Solomon filled the bases before Nordie took a walk that scored Nicole Parnell and cut the lead to 7-3. Harrison made it home on a fielder's choice by Stephens, but the TWU's rally fell short with a final groundout.
 
Walker (11-6) suffered the loss with one earned run on seven hits, three strikeouts and a walk.
 
The Pioneers get back into conference play at Pioneer Field Friday, April 7, with a single game versus Tarleton State at 6 p.m. and a doubleheader Saturday against the TexAnns beginning at 1 p.m.