AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia Texas softball team hosted the reigning national champions, No. 1 Texas Lutheran, in a doubleheader on Saturday, falling to the Bulldogs in both games at Tornado Softball Field.

Coming off its first 2-0 start to a season since 2015 after sweeping Trinity on Feb. 1, the Tornados played on its home field for the first time in 2020 against the 2019 NCAA Division III National Champion Bulldogs.

In the first game, TLU jumped on the CTX pitching staff early, scoring 10 runs through the first two innings.

Katie Hoke had the lone hit for the Tornados as the game ended by run-rule in five innings 10-0.

In the second game of the day, it was a pitcher's duel between CTX and the Bulldogs through the first four innings before TLU broke out the bats late, winning it 10-1.

Lauren Verasic started in the circle for the Tornados, allowing only one run through the first four frames.

In the third, trailing 1-0, CTX threatened with a pair of hits, but the Bulldogs turned a double play, to end the inning.

Texas Lutheran broke the game open game in the fifth, scoring five runs while taking advantage of a pair of Tornados' errors. They would score two more runs in the sixth to take an 8-0 lead.

Concordia Texas countered with a run in the bottom half of the sixth with a two-out rally. Sarah Brooks singled to left followed by an Ashley Hallmark walk. Hoke, pinch-running at second, took advantage of a Bulldogs' error, scoring on Samantha Lopez's fielder's choice to cut it to 8-1.

Texas Lutheran added to more runs in the seventh, defeating the Tornados 10-1 to wrap up the doubleheader sweep.

Concordia Texas will look to bounce back when they travel to Sherman, Texas, where they will play a split doubleheader on Feb. 15, facing Hendrix at 2 p.m. followed by a matchup against Austin College at 4 p.m.