AUSTIN, Texas (March 9, 2017) - Singles by Alexis Elizondo and Kaitlyn Johnson in the eighth inning provided two runs for Texas Woman's University in a 4-2 win at St. Edward's Thursday afternoon at Diane Daniels Field.
 
Morgan Harrison and Hazel Puempel accounted for half of the eight hits by the Pioneers while Tori Bice took the win in the circle.
 
Nicole Nordie was the first Pioneer on base due to an SEU fielding error. A sacrifice bunt by Katy Stephens pushed her to second before Puempel singled to shortstop. A passed ball advanced the runners to second and third, but a groundout ended the first scoring opportunity for TWU.
 
Stephens singled to center field in the top of the third and Puempel doubled to left center. A failed pickoff attempt resulted in Stephens notching the first run of the day.
 
The Hilltoppers (7-14) evened the score in the next inning beginning with a single up the middle and a TWU fielding error. A single to centerfield brought in the tying run.
 
Nordie led off the fifth with a single through the right side before stealing second. Back-to-back walks to Puempel and Tylia Sylestine loaded the bases, and a sacrifice fly to center field scored Nordie for a 2-1 TWU advantage. Pinch runner Logan Polasek stole second and Elizondo was hit by a pitch to fill the bases, but a line out sent the Pioneers back into the dugout.
 
St. Edward's tallied a single through the left side in the sixth and a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second. An RBI single to center field scored the Hilltopper to knot the game at 2-2.
 
The teams entered the eighth inning still tied as the Pioneers placed Hailey Dixon on second base through the international tiebreaker rule. Elizondo singled and advanced to second on a Hilltopper fielding error as Dixon ran in for a one-run TWU lead. A sac bunt by Abby Walker placed Elizondo on third, and Johnson sent a single down the left field line to score Elizondo and increase the lead to 4-2.
 
With an SEU runner on second, a SAC bunt moved the runner up a base. The second out was recorded on a pop out before a walk put the tying run on first, but Bice threw the final strike on a full count to catch the batter looking.
 
The Pioneers play a three-game series at Lone Star Conference member Texas A&M-Kingsville beginning Saturday at 5 p.m. followed by a doubleheader Sunday at noon.