DENTON, Texas (April 19, 2017) - Abby Walker recorded a win in the circle for Texas Woman's University in a 2-1 victory over Texas A&M International in game one of a doubleheader and notched a save in an 8-5 triumph in game two, while Nicole Nordie and Tara Solomon led the TWU offense with four hits apiece Wednesday evening at Pioneer Field.
 
Texas Woman's 2, Texas A&M International 1
 
Nicole Nordie and Hazel Puempel each notched the first hits of the evening, and a walk to Tylia Sylestine filled the bases with one out on the board. The next two Pioneers batters were struck out looking to end the inning.
 
Abby Walker struck out all three Dustdevil batters in the top of the third, and Puempel blasted a home run that crashed into the center of the scoreboard for a 1-0 TWU lead in the bottom half of the frame.
 
The Pioneers loaded the bases again in the bottom of the fourth, but were unable to bring anyone home. Walker gave up the first hit in the top of fifth on a hard shot past shortstop, and a sacrifice bunt put the runner on second before to fly outs left the Dustdevil on base.
 
Pinch hitter Kaitlyn Johnson drilled a single up the middle on her first pitch in the bottom of the fifth that allowed pinch runner Hailey Dixon to slide home and slap the plate to put TWU up 2-0.
 
TAMIU placed a batter on second by way of a walk and wild pitch in the top of the seventh. Two Pioneer errors on the same play let a runner on and a run to score to narrow the margin to 2-1 with one out remaining. A single to right center put runners on first and second, but Puempel secured a foul ball to shutdown a comeback.
 
Walker (14-7) took the win on two hits, one walk and six strikeouts.
 
Texas Woman's 8, Texas A&M International 5
 
TAMIU began game two with a walk, steal and a single up the middle before a sacrifice bunt brought in the first run. A passed ball placed a Dustdevil on third, and another single up the middle permitted another score for a 2-0 TAMIU edge.
 
Nordie tallied a single in the bottom of the first and advanced to second on a groundout. A single to right field by Sylestine scored Nordie to bite into the Dustdevil lead.
 
A single by TAMIU with the bases loaded in the top of the second scored a run, and a shot to right field brought around two more for a 5-1 Dustdevil lead. The Pioneers put on the offense in the second half of the inning with a Sylestine single up the middle to bring in Logan Polasek. Melanie Stephens then knocked a single to left field to fill the bases, and Alexis Elizondo singled to right center to bring Puempel around to close to within 5-3. Morgan Harrison scored Sylestine, and Tara Solomon singled to the pitcher to tie the game at 5-5 before a TAMIU error allowed Harrison to scamper in for a 6-5 TWU edge.
 
Solomon and Nordie each tallied an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth to increase the Pioneer lead to 8-5. The Dustdevils attempted to make a run in the top of the seventh, but Walker was inserted back into the circle to earn another strikeout and  pop out to close the contest for the TWU victory.
 
Dixon (7-1) took the win on zero runs with five hits, one walk and two strikeouts, while Walker recorded her second save on the season.
 
The Pioneers return to conference play in a series against Texas-Permian Basin Friday with a doubleheader at 5 p.m. and a single game Saturday at 1 p.m.