TYLER, Texas – Paige Tamayo went 3-for-3 with four RBIs, while Avery Williams also chipped in three hits as part of a seven-hit day as the Texas Woman's University softball team (3-6) downed the No. 23 Arkansas Tech Golden Suns 10-7 to open action on Saturday at the Texas A&M-Commerce/UT Tyler Invitational.
 
The Pioneers later fell 5-2 to host UT Tyler to close the day's action.

"What a great team win to open the day," said head coach Amber Barker. "It was back and forth the entire game for both teams and was an exciting game to walk away from with a win. We also showed up offensively, which helped take some pressure off of us in the circle. In game two, we had our opportunities. We outhit them, however, we left too many runners on and beat ourselves up defensively." 

Tamayo used the longball in the first inning to give the Pioneers an early 2-0 lead, and after ATU knotted the game in the bottom of the second, Tamayo's RBI single started the scoring in a four-run third inning that saw TWU push ahead 6-2. 

The Golden Suns pulled to within 6-4 in the third, but the Pioneers plated four runs in the fourth inning using RBI singles by Abby Willis, Avery Williams, and Tamayo to take a 10-4 lead. ATU was able to add a pair of runs down the stretch but could not close the gap further as TWU claimed its third win over top-25 opposition on the season. 

Bailey Turner picked up her first win of the season in relief after scattering nine hits over 5.1 innings of work, surrendering five runs, three earned and walking one while fanning two. 
 
In the nightcap, Williams went 4-for-4 while Tamayo and Johnson added two hits apiece, but TWU could not overcome the early lead that UT Tyler picked up over the first three innings. TWU was able to cut the deficit to 3-2 with a two-run fourth, using RBI singles by Tamayo and Sydney Johnson to pull within one. However, UT Tyler added a pair of runs in the sixth to stretch the score to the game's final margin. 

Turner took the loss after allowing five runs, only one earned, in six innings of work. 

TWU will play No. 14 Southern Arkansas to close action on Sunday at 10 a.m.