DENTON, Texas (March 7, 2018) - Field conditions finally allowed Texas Woman's University to play their first games at Pioneer Field of the 2018 season as TWU split a series with Oklahoma Christian in a 15-4 loss and 7-5 win Wednesday evening.
 
Oklahoma Christian 15, Texas Woman's 4
 
A walk to Lindy Kennedy put the first Pioneer runner on base of the day. Kennedy then stole second and scored the first run on a Jordan Kisselburg single to center field.
 
OC put up a number of scores in the top of the second beginning with three straight singles, and a walk pushed a Lady Eagle home. A single down the right field line scored a pair before another single added another run for a 4-1 OC advantage.
 
The Lady Eagles used a single through the right side, a double to left field and a passed ball to begin the third to up the lead to 6-1. A home run to center field added two more runs to place the Pioneers in a 7-1 deficit.
 
Tylia Sylestine singled through the right side in the bottom of the inning, and Hazel Puempel doubled to right field. Puempel made her way to third, but Sylestine was caught between home and third. Abby Walker singled down the left field to score Puempel to give TWU a run.
 
A bases-loaded walk produced an OC run in the top of the fourth, and three singles tallied another trio of scores. The Lady Eagles managed five total runs in the inning to jump ahead, 12-2.
 
An OC fielding error allowed Sylestine to reach first with two outs on the board before singles by Puempel and Kisselburg filled the bases. Walker was hit by a pitch to bring Sylestine around, and Cheyenne Mahy singled through the left side to cut the margin to 12-4.
 
Three Lady Eagle singles, two from the left side and one from the right, in the top of the fifth contributed to three more runs, and the Pioneers failed to produce offensively in the bottom half.
 
The Pioneers used a pitching fleet throughout the game with Walker, Mahy and Raegyn Parrish all making appearances. Walker (2-5) suffered the loss with 10 earned runs.
 
Texas Woman's 7, Oklahoma Christian 5
 
Kennedy and Sylestine each singled to begin the second game, Puempel walked to fill the bases, and Mahy produced an RBI for a 1-0 TWU edge. OC evened the score in the top of the second with an RBI single.
 
The Lady Eagles took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third on a triple to center field that preceded a TWU throwing error. An RBI single to the pitcher by Kisselburg pulled the Pioneers to within a run in the bottom of the frame.
 
Melanie Stephens turned a triple in the fourth, Avery Williams sent a single to the pitcher and stole second, and Kennedy was hit by a pitch. Sylestine doubled to right center for three runs, and Puempel blasted a double to right field to score Sylestine and increased the lead to 6-2. A sacrifice fly by Marisa Arriaga added another run in the fifth to give the Pioneers a 7-3 advantage.
 
OC made an effort in the top of the seventh with an RBI double and single to close within 7-5, but TWU managed to hang on for the win.
 
Mahy (4-1) earned the win with a complete game on four strikeouts and a walk.
 
The Pioneers host a series versus Texas A&M-Kingsville with a single game Friday at 6 p.m. and a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.