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Life > Athletics > Softball > 4/21/06
PIONEERS DROP DOUBLEHEADER TO NO. 15 WILDCATS
ABILENE, Texas – Texas Woman’s University battled with Abilene Christian, ranked No. 15 in the nation and No. 2 in the South Central Region, but came up short in 3-1 and 8-6 (eight innings) losses.
The Pioneers (24-33-1, 12-7-1) snapped a four-game winning streak. The Wildcats (37-14, 17-3) clinched the Lone Star Conference South Division championship with the game one victory. TWU remains in second place as Angelo State (12-8) and Eastern New Mexico (12-10) split its two games today.
“We fought and hung in there. It is tough against a good team like that to play catch up the whole time. We spotted them runs in first and second games and had to come back,” assistant coach Jason Gwyn said. “We were able to do it in the second game. But always getting down and having to come back will eventually get you.”
Lindsy Russ-Keller pitched a gem in the opener. In six innings, she allowed just five hits and three runs. The big blow was a three-run homer in the third inning. The Wildcats utilized a Pioneer error and single to put two runners on base. With two outs, Jade Wilson went deep to clear the bases.
The Pioneers responded with its lone run in the fourth inning. Amanda Arnold led off with a single. Amber Brooks entered to pinch run for Arnold and stole second then advanced to third on an error. Amanda Danesi plated her with a base hit.
TWU had eight hits and left seven runners on base. Tiffanie Boone led the team with three hits.
“Lindsy pitched a heck of a game,” Gwyn added. “It came down to an error, a bunt for a hit and with two outs the only bad pitch of the whole game.”
In the nightcap, ACU took a 6-1 lead into the sixth inning. At that point, TWU generated five runs to tie the game.
Boone started the comeback with a lead-off walk. Amanda Emory, Arnold and Danesi followed with consecutive singles. With one out, Rachel Johnson hit a RBI double. Next, Rachel Townsend reached on an error that scored two runs before she was thrown out at second base to end the inning.
The Wildcats ended the game in the eighth inning. With one out, Wilson hit the game-winning home run.
Ashley Martin started the game in the circle before Russ-Keller relieved her in the third frame. Emory, Danesi, Johnson and Chelsea Reilly each had two of the Pioneers 10 hits.
Head coach Marty Blowers was ill and did not travel to Abilene.
The teams end the league series with a doubleheader on April 22 beginning at 1:00 p.m.
“I expect our team to come out a little faster tomorrow. We talked about having to play catch up,” Gwyn said. “We need to get ahead and let the pitchers relax, so they don’t have to be so perfect.”
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