DENTON, Texas (March 23, 2018) - Tylia Sylestine racked up a pair of home runs against fifth-ranked Angelo State as the Pioneers outhit the Belles but ended up falling 13-7 due in part to a trio of ASU grand slams Friday night at Pioneer Field.
 
TWU (20-11, 8-5 LSC) put up 13 hits compared to 12 by the Belles (28-3, 12-1 LSC) as Jordan Kisselburg tallied three for the Pioneers, and two each were notched by Sylestine, Hazel Puempel, Abby Walker and Tara Solomon. Raegyn Parrish recorded a season-high six strikeouts in the circle and held ASU to a single run throughout four innings before the final grand slam of the game.
 
The Belles struck early with a pair of singles and a walk to fill the bases before a home run to left center put four runs on the board. The Pioneers were able to strand three ASU runners with a strike out from new pitcher Abby Walker and a foul out.
 
Tylia Sylestine racked up her 10^th homer of the season with a solo shot for the first TWU run of the evening.
 
Another ASU grand slam in the second doubled the Belle total for an 8-1 lead, and another score in the fourth upped it to 9-1. In the bottom of the frame, Sylestine took a walk, and Hazel Puempel singled to right center. A single to right field by Jordan Kisselburg loaded the bases for an RBI single from Walker to make it 9-2.
 
Tara Soloman sent a missile down the left field line in the bottom of the fifth for a double, and a bunt by Lindy Kennedy placed her on first. Sylestine then belted another ball over the fence to cut to deficit to 9-5.
 
ASU registered their third grand slam in the top of the seventh to extend the margin to 13-4. The Pioneers fought to stay alive beginning with a walk to Puempel followed by a Kisselburg single to third. Walker sailed a single over the glove of the shortstop to score Puempel, and Mahy hit the left field wall to bring in Kisselburg, but Walker was tagged just short of third base.
 
Cheyenne Mahy (9-3) suffered the loss with four runs on four hits, a strikeout and a walk.
 
Head Coach Genny Stidham said, "I hate to outhit a team and lose. We need more production throughout the lineup when runners are in scoring position. We also need to correct the bad base running, and our pitching has to do a better job on locating pitches."
 
The Pioneers and Belles continue the series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.