MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE BOX SCORE

LETOURNEAU BOX SCORE

Farmers Branch, Texas – Kat Moreno went the distance in the circle and helped herself out by driving in two runs to lead the Concordia University Texas softball team to an 8-1 win over Mississippi College on Saturday, March 2 at Oran Good Park. The Tornados later beat LeTourneau by a 4-3 score to conclude action at the American Southwest Conference First Pitch Tournament with a 3-1 record over the two days.

After Mississippi College (1-5) scored in the top of the first, Concordia was able to seize control of the game by pushing three runs across in the first and second frames to go ahead by five. Jessica Parish tied the game with an RBI double before Shelby Wallace put the Tornados on top for the rest of the game by drawing a bases-loaded walk. Meghan Ferrell then doubled the CTX lead with an RBI single through the left side.

Concordia continued pouring it on in the second, beginning when Katie Carrizales came home on an illegal pitch. Moreno singled in the Tornados' fifth run before Alexis Lynn later drew another bases-loaded walk. The Tornados added an insurance tally in the third and sixth innings, which was capped by a Chriatina Smith RBI single, to seal the final outcome.

Moreno earned the victory in the circle for Concordia and improved her record to 3-1. She allowed four hits and one run, which was earned, while striking out three over seven innings of work. Mississippi College's Kimmie Conley, who lasted only 1.1 frames, suffered the loss and dropped to 1-2 after surrendering four hits and six runs, which were all earned, and issuing six walks.

Later in the day, LeTourneau took a quick 1-0 advantage by getting an RBI triple from Jourdan Glover. Concordia, however, responded by pushing across a run in the first and second frames to continue what would turn out to be a seesaw affair. Parish, who went 2-for-3 with three runs batted in, tied the game with a single up the middle before Christina Smith hit into a fielder's choice that scored Wallace.

LeTourneau (11-3) started off the sixth inning hot and got a walk and consecutive hits, including a two-run single from Kaylee Pritchett, to regain the lead at 3-2 and force head coach Denise Lira to make a pitching change. After Moreno came end and got out of the inning without the Yellow Jackets doing any more damage, the Tornado offense responded by scoring two more times in the bottom half of the frame. Parish provided the clutch hit by shooting a single up the middle to send home Melissa Cantu and Moreno. The Yellow Jackets were then retired in order by Moreno to end the game.

Moreno picked up her second victory of the day to finish the two-day tournament with a 2-0 record and a save by hurling two scoreless innings in which she gave up just one hit and struck out two. The senior also did not issue a walk in the relief effort to improve her overall ledger to 4-1 this spring. LeTourneau's Kaylee Pritchett suffered the loss after giving up seven hits and four runs, including two earned, while striking out three and walking one.

Concordia (7-3) returns to action when it hosts rival Mary Hardin-Baylor on Friday, March 8 at Old Settler's Park. The first game of the doubleheader is slated to begin at 5 p.m.
-agate-
Mississippi College (1-5)      100     000     0     1     4    1
Concordia                                 331     001     x     8   11    0
     Mississippi College: Kimmie Conley, Bethany Fletcher (2) and Carly Donovan.
     Concordia: Kat Moreno and Shannon Lanford.

LeTourneau (11-3)                  100     002     0     3   12    2
Concordia (7-3)                        110     002     x     4     7     1
     LeTourneau: Karen Kubacak, Kaylee Pritchett (1) and Jourdan Glover.
     Concordia: Zalysa Perez, Kat Moreno (6) and Shannon Lanford.