AUSTIN, Texas –
Keeley Etchison allowed only four hits over 6.1 innings of work for her first collegiate victory as the Concordia Texas Softball team split the first two games of their conference-series opener against Ozarks on Friday.
After dropping the first game 6-5 against the Eagles, Etchinson was given the ball for game two of the night for the Tornados.
She would encounter a rough first inning, where Ozarks pushed across three runs to take an early 3-0 lead, Etchinson would settle in though, allowing only three hits over the next 5.1 innings while also striking out a pair.
Concordia Texas' bats would pick up Etchinson in the first, responding with four runs.
After
Kayla Patton reached on a fielder's choice,
Haley Dennett would drive a one-out double into left, bringing home Patton and cutting it to 3-1.
Summer Harper would follow with a single, and the Tornados would tie it up at 3-all on
Ashley Hallmark's double to left. Hallmark would be the go-ahead run for CTX, scoring on
Kaitlyn Medina's two-out RBI single.
In the final frame, the Eagles would threaten with two runners on with one out.
Simone Langland would relieve Etchison, seeking to close the game out. She would induce Ozarks into back-to-back ground outs to secure her second save of the season and the 4-3 win.
In the first game of the night, the Tornados would strike first with a run in each of the first two innings.
The Eagles would counter though and take their first lead of the game in the third after a five-run inning and added one more in the fourth and led 6-2 after four frames.
Concordia Texas would rally though, scoring two runs in the sixth after
Mycahla Howard and Patton led off with back-to-back doubles. Patton would come home on Hallmark's RBI infield single and the Tornados trailed 6-4 heading in the final inning.
In the seventh, CTX would load the bases with two outs.
Payton Walker would follow, reaching on an RBI single to the shortstop and cutting it to 6-5.
Anissa Garcia looked to tie it up, but she would fly out to center, ending the game, as the Tornados' comeback fell short.
Hallmark was superb at the dish, finishing 5-for-6 for the night, driving in four runs and scoring once.
Concordia Texas will look to win series against Ozarks on Saturday with first pitch at noon from Tornado Softball field.
