GAME ONE BOX SCORE

GAME TWO BOX SCORE

PHOTO GALLERY


Round Rock, Texas – Kat Moreno went the distance in the circle and drove in three runs on two hits to lead the Concordia University Texas softball team to a 10-2 victory over Howard Payne in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday, March 23 at Old Settler's Park. The Tornados, who welcomed Special Olympics Texas athletes that were introduced and took the field with the players during starting lineups, fell in the second game by a 3-1 decision.

After Howard Payne pushed across a run in the top of the first inning, Concordia answered with four in the bottom half of the same frame and never looked back in the opener. Meghan Ferrell hit a bases-loaded single to score Erin Duhon and break a 1-1 tie before Moreno helped herself out with a two-run single through the right side to drive in Alex Smith and Jessica Parish, giving the hosts a 4-1 lead.

Howard Payne (8-14, ASC 3-7) made it a two-run affair by scoring in the top of the second, but the Tornados were able to end the game early due to the eight-run rule by scoring twice in the third, fourth and fifth frames. Lauren Vansickle made it 9-2 on a single, setting up the winning play. The senior leftfielder then allowed the winning run to come home from third by trying to advance to second in a rundown situation.

Moreno improved to 3-4 for Concordia by picking up the victory. She allowed five hits and two runs, which were both earned, while striking out three and walking one. Howard Payne's Kayla Castillo was tagged with the loss and fell to 2-6 on the year after yielding 10 hits and eight runs, including six earned, in four innings. She failed to record a strikeout.

All of the scoring in the nightcap came in the second inning, as Howard Payne went ahead 3-0 by scattering three hits and taking advantage of Tornado defensive miscues during the frame. Tylene Middleton scored on an infield error before Shandi Winstead came home on a passed ball. Katie Poerner closed the scoring by doubling in Liz Alvarado.

Concordia attempted to rally in the bottom of the same frame on an RBI single by Kassey Shaw, but that was as close as it would come the rest of the way. Ballie Trumble retired the side in order twice to allow the Yellow Jackets to escape with the victory.

Trumble finished the afternoon with a 4-4 record as the winning pitcher for Howard Payne. She allowed seven hits and one run, which was earned, while staying in control and not issuing a walk. Concordia's Teylor Schiefelbein suffered the loss and dropped to 4-5 after giving up eight hits and three runs, including two earned, while going the distance.

Concordia (7-9, ASC 1-5) hosts Howard Payne tomorrow afternoon for another doubleheader which is slated to begin at 1 p.m.

Notes: Concordia's softball team hosted its Athletes for Athletes Day in which Special Olympics Texas athletes came to support the program … Special Olympics Texas athletes were introduced with the Concordia players and took the field during starting lineups before one of them threw out the first pitch … After the second game, the Concordia players signed autographs on a team photo and posed for more pictures ... The Concordia volleyball, basketball and baseball programs hosted similar events, while Tornado athletes have also volunteered at multiple Special Olympics Texas competitions as part of the successful partnership between the two organizations during the 2011-12 academic year.
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Howard Payne                              110     00     2      5      1
Concordia                                      402     22    10    13    0
     Howard Payne: Kayla Castillo, Haleigh Caraway (5) and Brittany Johnson.
     Concordia: Kat Moreno and Alex Smith.

Note: Game ended in the bottom of the fifth with two outs due to the eight-run rule.

Howard Payne (8-14, ASC 3-7) 030     000     0     3     8     1
Concordia (7-9, ASC 1-5)           010     000     0     1     7     1
     Howard Payne: Baillie Trumble and Brittany Johnson, Amanda Gober (2).
     Concordia: Teylor Schiefelbein and Kassey Shaw.