GAME ONE BOX SCORE

GAME TWO BOX SCORE

SENIOR DAY CEREMONY PHOTO GALLERY

GAME ACTION PHOTO GALLERY

Cedar Park, Texas – Jessica Parish drove in a combined five runs in leading the Concordia University Texas softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Hardin-Simmons in a pivotal American Southwest Conference doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 13 at Cedar Park High School. The Tornados, who recognized their five-member senior class prior to the twinbill, won by scores of 5-4 and 7-6 to end the weekend in sole possession of fourth place for what would be the final playoff spot in the ASC West Division standings.

Concordia jumped all over Cowgirl pitchers Brittany Acosta and Carol Swindell early and often, scoring at least one run in each of the first four frames to go ahead 5-1. Parish hit an RBI single through the left side to get the offense going in the first before Christina Smith blasted a hit to the gap in left center to send home Shelby Wallace and double the Tornado lead.

After the Cowgirls got on the board in the top of the third, Parish and Wallace drove in Tornado runs in the bottom of the same frame on a single and walk, respectively. Meghan Ferrell then plated the eventual winning run in the fourth on a single to left.

Hardin-Simmons (11-22-1, ASC 9-11), however, stormed back and threatened to take the lead in the top of the seventh before a costly baserunning error ended the game. Shelby McIntyre belted an RBI double and Lara LeLeux followed with a single to make it 5-4. With one out and a runner on first, Kat Moreno fanned Tera Davis for what appeared to only be the second out. But pinch runner Nat De La Torre was called out for leaving first base early before the next pitch, putting an abrupt end to the game that allowed the Tornados to win by a one-run decision.

Moreno won her career-best 11th decision of the season for Concordia by going the distance. She allowed 13 hits and four runs, including one earned, while striking out three and walking two. Brittany Acosta, who was lit up for five hits and four runs, which were all earned, over 2.2 frames and dropped her record to 7-11 at the time.

Hardin-Simmons came out with a vengeance in the nightcap, which would feature two ties and one lead change, by scoring three runs in the top of the first. The Cowgirls started the game with three consecutive hits, which was capped by a double to deep left center by Mac Clay that plated two over teammates and give the visitors a quick 2-0 advantage. Shelby McIntyre then added an RBI single to make it 3-0 and quickly force the Tornados to make a pitching change. Reliever Zalysa Perez, however, got out of a bases-loaded jam by inducing a groundout.

Concordia answered right back and tied the score at 3-all by adding one tally in the first and two in the third. Parish drove in all the runs during the stretch by singling to right to begin a rally and going yard for the fourth time this season to create the 3-3 deadlock.

The Cowgirls responded by building up a 6-4 advantage in the top of the fifth, but the Tornados once again came back to tie the score by getting a clutch hit from Ellen Reid. Christina Martin and Erin Duhon, who walked and singled earlier in the frame, each scored on the play.

After the visitors stranded a runner at third in the top half of the last inning, Concordia would complete the rally they started early in the game in walk-off fashion. Parish set the tone by hitting a leadoff single before Duhon and Ferrell followed up with hits to load the bases. Brie Martinez, who entered the game as a pinch hitter for Perez, then drew a bases-loaded walk to send in Savannah Valderas for the winning run.

Perez picked up the victory for Concordia and improved to 5-2 this season after giving up five hits and three runs, including one earned, in 6.2 innings of work. She also had two strikeouts. Hardin-Simmons' Acosta suffered her second loss of the afternoon and ended the day with a 7-12 record. She yielded six hits and four runs, including two earned, while hurling four frames. The sophomore issued four walks, which included a costly free pass that plated the winning run.

Concordia (21-13, ASC 10-10) will look to clinch a spot in the American Southwest Conference Tournament for the third time in the last four years when it visits Schreiner next weekend. The first game is slated to start on Friday, Apr. 19 at 5 p.m.
-agate-
Hardin-Simmons                                          001     010     2     4   13    1
Concordia                                                       112     100     x     5     9     3
     Hardin-Simmons: Brittany Acosta, Carol Swindell (3) and Tera Davis.
     Concordia: Kat Moreno and Shannon Lanford.

Hardin-Simmons (11-22-1, ASC 9-11)     300     210     0     6     9     1
Concordia (21-13, ASC 10-10)                   102     120     1     7    10    5
     Hardin-Simmons: Carol Swindell, Brittany Acosta (3) and Tera Davis.
     Concordia: Noey Ruiz, Zalysa Perez (1) and Shannon Lanford.