DENTON, Texas (March 12, 2018) - A five-run lead for Texas Woman's University resulted in a 7-5 loss for the Pioneers in game one of a doubleheader versus Missouri Western State before TWU responded with a 7-2 victory in game two Tuesday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
 
Missouri Western 7, Texas Woman's 5
 
A double to right field by Jordan Kisselburg in the bottom of the first scored Hazel Puempel and Tylia Sylestine. Kisselburg made it to third on a wild pitch before coming home on an Abby Walker single up the middle for a 3-0 TWU win.
 
Sylestine doubled in the second to score pinch runner Kenzie Wilson, and Puempel sent the ball to left center to bring in Sylestine to up the lead to 5-0.
 
A home run to left field by the Griffons (7-16, 3-1 MIAA) in the top of the fifth and a pair of Pioneer errors contributed to another MWSU run to close the margin to 5-2. A second homer from the Griffons added another score in the top of the sixth to pull the visitors to within two runs.
 
A walk along with two singles filled the bases for MWSU in the top of the seventh, and a deep hit turned into a grand slam to put the Griffons up 7-5. In the bottom of the frame, the Pioneers (14-9, 5-4 LSC) recorded a pair of singles and a walk to place the winning run on base, but a double play ended the scoring opportunity for TWU.
 
Cheyenne Mahy (7-2) suffered the loss with five runs on six hits, a strike out and a walk.
 
Texas Woman's 7, Missouri Western 5
 
The Griffons took advantage of a passed ball to score first in the top of the opening inning before a bomb over the center field fence by Kisselburg scored two for a 2-1 TWU edge.
 
MWSU tied things up in the fifth with a double to right field. In the bottom of the inning, Sylestine walked and Puempel doubled to right center before Kisselburg singled to right field to bring in Sylestine. A nicely placed bunt by Walker scored Puempel, and a sacrifice fly by Lindy Kennedy put the Pioneers up 5-2.
 
Sylestine blasted a home run to left field in the bottom of the sixth to add another pair of runs to TWU's total for a 7-2 lead, and the Pioneers collected three quick outs in the top of the seventh to grab the victory.
 
Walker (6-6) took the win with one run on two hits.
 
Head Coach Genny Stidham said, "I am disappointed I am not seeing the improvement I would like to see at this point in the season. It looks like we will need to adjust our defense. We are relying on the same players offensively, and we need other players to step up."
 
The Pioneers host St. Mary's Wednesday for a doubleheader at 2 p.m. at Pioneer Field.