By Brian Magloyoan | Texas Woman's Athletics Communications
 
KINGSVILLE, Texas (Feb. 15, 2019) — TWU Softball opened conference play on the road on Friday against unbeaten Texas A&M-Kingsville, falling to the Javelinas 9-1.
 
"It was a tough day for us all around today," head coach Amber Barker said. "We only put up four hits, had two errors that hurt us and we didn't do our job in the pitching circle."
 
Both teams were held without a run through the first three innings. In the fourth, the Pioneers threatened when Tara Solomon led the inning with a single to left field. Three batters later, Tylia Sylestine drew a two-out walk to put runners on first and second, only to have the inning end with two runners stranded.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, the Javelinas capitalized on their opportunities, scoring five runs on five hits.
 
"We weren't able to string any aspects of the game together," Barker added.
 
After two more runs scored for the Javelinas, the Pioneers found their only run of the game in the sixth inning when Sylestine ripped a double to right center field, scoring Solomon who led the inning with a single.
 
"It's going to take grit, fight and a true desire to prove we want it more," Barker said when asked about what it will take to bounce back.
 
The Pioneers will wrap up the three-game set on Saturday with a doubleheader against the Javelinas beginning at 1 p.m.