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Life > Athletics > Softball > Feb. 25
TWU DROPS CLOSE GAMES TO BRONCHOS AND TIGERS
IRVING , Texas – The Texas Woman’s University softball team experienced two tough losses against Central Oklahoma and East Central in the first day of action at the First Pitch Tournament.
The Pioneers (4-3) fell to the Bronchos, 0-1, and the Tigers, 1-2, at Southwest Park in Irving , Texas .
“We weren’t at full throttle but that is not an excuse. We needed people to step up. We did not get the hits we needed,” head coach Dianne Baker said. “Our defense and pitching were good but the offense didn’t score.”
The game against UCO featured dominant pitching for most of the game. UCO’s Jordan Akin had a perfect game going until the bottom of the seventh inning and TWU’s Lindsy Russ-Keller didn’t allow a hit until the third inning.
Akin retired the Pioneers in order the first six times they were at bat utilizing a variety of pitches and a solid defense.
The Bronchos started the fifth with a double over Courtney Martin’s outstretched glove in left field. Russ-Keller induced a ground ball for the first out which advanced the runner to third base. UCO faked a suicide attempt on a bunt right back to Russ-Keller putting runners on first and third. The runner from first broke on the ensuing pitch and Stefani Easter came up firing to gun her out at second without allowing the runner at third to score. Russ-Keller struck out the next batter looking to end in the inning.
The Pioneers defense found itself back in trouble in the sixth. UCO started the inning with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. The next Broncho laid down a bunt which Lauren Gustartis fielded and attempted to tag the batter but missed her putting runners at first and third with no outs. UCO attempted a suicide squeeze but Rachel Townsend was all over it flipping the ball to Easter at home for the first out. With the bases loaded the Bronchos singled in a run before Townsend and Easter combined for the last two outs at the plate.
Down 1-0 TWU tried to get on the board but first needed to reach base. Martin grounded out to lead off the inning. Next, Ashley Hartley entered to pinch hit and struck out. With two outs Rhonda Sherman found the grass in right field for the first hit of the game but was left there as Amanda Danesi struck out.
The offense got off to a strong start against ECU but struggled to get across the plate. The Pioneers collected two hits in the first inning as Townsend and Sherman singled to center field but they were left on base.
The TWU battery consisted of Amanda Chambless (2-1) in the circle and Amanda Danesi behind the plate. Chambless made quick work of the Tigers in the first needing just six pitches to provoke three fly balls.
In the second inning ECU’s Karah McFatter hit a solo home run way over the fence in left field to put the Tigers on top, 1-0.
Sherman doubled to the left center field fence with one out in the third inning. Designated player Amanda Arnold and Lauren Gustartis flied out to leave her there.
TWU tied the game up in the fourth inning as Chelsea Reilly led off with a double to the gap. Chambless advanced her to third with a sacrifice bunt before Danesi hit a RBI double.
In the top of the seventh Martin, Townsend and Sherman went down in order.
The Tigers came up needing a run to end the game in regulation. McFatter was the first batter of the inning and took the first pitch she saw from Chambless over the fence to end the game with a walk off home run, her second of the game.
Reilly paced the offense with a two-for-two performance at the plate including a double, single and walk. Sherman added two hits as well with a single and double.
TWU continues play at the tournament on Feb. 26 facing Northeastern State at 2:00 p.m. and Southeastern Oklahoma State at 4:00 p.m.
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