OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (March 29, 2024) - The Texas Woman's softball team drops both games of the conference doubleheader against Oklahoma Christian in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
TWU (16-22, 14-13) went 0-2 against OC (24-14, 20-10) after dropping the lone game of the series yesterday Thursday, March 28. The Eagles struggled to get the 6-4 and 1-0 wins against the Pioneers.
The Pioneers started game one against OC with a great 4-0 lead, displaying their best at bat of the series against the Eagles.
Vivica Hernandez started in the batting circle for TWU with a single through the right side of the field and advanced to second after Callied Bailey was grounded out to third base. Ciana Rodrgiuez collected her first RBI of the series with a double to left field that allowed Hernandez to score the first run for the Pioneers.
TWU had the bases loaded after three straight singles from Alyssa LeBlanc, Tylar Lane and Delaney Boley. Lane's single recorded an RBI while Rodriguez added one more run to the Pioneer's count.
Hawwa Townsend hit another single to center field for TWU and got LeBlanc to make the run to home base and score the third run for TWU. After a series of changes from the Eagles, Lauryn Davies, who had been solid and consistent at bat, flied out to right field in a sacrifice fly to let Lane score the fourth and final run for the Pioneers.
One of the most successful innings for the Pioneers this season -Four runs, six hits and two left on base.
The Eagles responded quickly and got on the board with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Slowly, OC closed the gap adding single runs in the bottom of the third and fourth innings.
After three scoreless innings, the Pioneers and the Eagles went to extra inning, where TWU was unable to make anything happen.
LeBlanc (8-9) took the mound for the Pioneers replacing Allison Gonzalez who came to pitch in for Jaycie Hall after three innings. A home run with two on base gave the Eagles the first victory and finished up game one of the doubleheader.
Bailey, LeBlanc and Townsend led the Pioneers at bat with two hits each of four opportunities in the batting circle. The Pioneers and the Eagles tied in hits with eleven each and no errors.
Gonzalez (1-4) pitched all six innings for the Pioneers and struck out four Eagles. The Pioneers struggled offensively against the Eagles who recorded seven hits in six at bats.
After a couple of uneventful innings, a single run in the bottom of the third inning from an Eagle's home run was enough for OC to take the win for game two of the doubleheader.
The Lone Star Conference ranking remained the same after this series. The Pioneers stayed in the ninth spot while the Eagles solidified their fourth place.
With only five LSC conference series left before the postseason, TWU will go on to face number six in the conference, St. Mary's, next week in Denton, Texas. The doubleheader is set for Friday, April 5 at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. while the lone game of the series will be played the next day, Saturday, April 6th at 1 p.m. The Pioneers will be celebrating alumni weekend during Friday's doubleheader and national student-athlete's day on Saturday.
-PIONEERS-
