AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia Texas softball would rally in their final at-bat twice, but came up short both times, falling to Howard Payne in a doubleheader on Friday.
In the first game, the Tornados scored three runs in the seventh and had the game-winning run at the plate, but saw their rally cut short, dropping it 6-4 to the Yellow Jackets.
Concordia Texas struck first with a run in the first frame as
Payton Walker scored on
Summer Harper's sac fly to right.
Heather Casiano kept Howard Payne off the scoreboard through the first five innings, allowing only six hits as CTX held the 1-0 lead.
In the sixth, the Yellow Jackets would take their first lead of the game with a five-run inning and tacked one more run on in the seventh and led 6-1 heading into the bottom half of the inning.
Kayla Patton led off with a double followed by an
Ashley Hallmark single to get the rally started. One out later,
Mycahla Howard would drive in both with a two-run double into the gap and make it 6-3.
Brianna Heredia continued the rally and made it 6-4 with an RBI single to left, scoring
Taylor Smith, who pinch-ran for Howard. After a Walker single,
Anissa Garcia approached the plate as the game-winning run, but a strike out ended the game.
In between the doubleheader, the Tornados celebrated senior day, honoring their seven seniors,
Haley Dennett,
Chloe Gonzales, Howard,
Olivia Kaase,
Emma Martino, Smith and Walker for their athletic careers at CTX.
In game two, the Tornados rallied late once again, but came up short, falling 3-2.
The teams would both be scoreless through the first three frames until the fourth, when CTX went ahead 1-0 on a HPU throwing error that allowed Smith to score from second.
The Yellow Jackets would not go down easily though, scoring a pair of runs in the sixth and adding another run in the seventh to lead 3-1 going to the bottom of the seventh.
In the seventh, the Tornados would put two runners on thanks to an HPU error and a walk. After a sac bunt moved the runners over, Dennett would cut the deficit in half. Concordia Texas would go on to load the bases but a fly out ended the game as the Tornados fell 3-2.
Concordia Texas will wrap up the series on Saturday in their regular season finale, taking on the Yellow Jackets at 1 p.m. from Tornado Softball Field.
