Abilene, Texas – Alexis Lynn blasted a grand slam home run in the nightcap as the Concordia University Texas softball team completed a four-game sweep of Hardin-Simmons for the first time in program history on Saturday, Apr. 14 at Ellis Field. The Tornados, who have now won eight games in a row, defeated the Cowgirls in the opener, 8-2, before taking the nightcap by a 6-0 decision.

Concordia never trailed in the opener and got on the board in the top of the third. Jessica Parish doubled to left to drive in Ashley Boccaccio, who was hit by a pitch to start the inning, before Candace Velasquez drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Parish and double the Tornado lead.

After the Cowgirls sliced the deficit in half with a run in the fourth, Concordia started to pull away by tallying one run in the fifth and three in the sixth. Boccaccio first made it 3-1 when she was plunked with the bases loaded. Parish started the next frame with a solo homer, and Laura Abellanida and Alex Smith followed with consecutive RBI doubles to provide additional offensive support and give the visitors a 5-1 cushion. Hardin-Simmons got one run back in the sixth, but the Tornados shook it off and added two insurance tallies in the seventh on a triple by Parish and a sacrifice fly by Meghan Ferrell, respectively.

Concordia's Kat Moreno earned the victory and improved her ledger this season to 7-8. She went the distance, striking out seven and walking only one while allowing six hits and two runs. Blair Wallace suffered her second setback in as many days for Hardin-Simmons. She was lit up for 11 hits and six runs, including four earned, over 5.1 frames.

Parish kept her bat hot in the finale and drove in the game's first run on a double to right center in the opening frame. While Teylor Schiefelbein was in the process of hurling a shutout, the Tornados got a big lift in the top of the fifth when Lynn rocketed her first career home run over the fence to plate Vansickle, Ferrell and Parish.

One inning later, another single by Parish made it 6-0 in favor of Concordia. Hardin-Simmons threatened in the bottom half of the last two innings, but Schiefelbein held her ground and was able to secure the shutout and four-game road sweep for the Tornados.

Schiefelbein improved to 9-8 overall by picking up the shutout victory for Concordia. She allowed five hits, fanned four and did not issue a walk. Hardin-Simmons' Sarah Shurbet took the loss after yielding eight hits and six runs, which were all earned, and striking out four.

Concordia is still in the hunt for an American Southwest Conference Tournament berth and will host Schreiner for a four-game series on Apr. 20-21.
-agate-
Concordia                                                   002     013     2     8    12    1
Hardin-Simmons                                      000     101     0     2     6     3
Concordia: Kat Moreno and Alex Smith.
Hardin-Simmons: Blair Wallace, Brittany Acosta (6) and Taylor Namey.

Concordia (16-16, ASC 10-10)               100     041     0     6     8     2
Hardin-Simmons (20-14, ASC 13-7)     000     000     0     0     5     0
Concordia: Teylor Schiefelbein and Kassey Shaw.
Hardin-Simmons:  Sarah Shurbet and Taylor Namey.