RICHARDSON, Texas –
Ashley Hallmark swiped a record-setting bag and blasted a game-tying homerun, and the Concordia Texas softball team fought back for a comeback victory on the road against UT Dallas 6-5 on Friday.
Hallmark's 39th stolen base as a Tornado placed her in sole possession of the program's career record, passing the mark of 38 previously held by Pepper Henderson (2002-05). Just one inning later, the senior centerfielder deposited a three-run blast over the left field fence to tie the game and spark the Tornados' comeback win.
Bailey Tisdale picked up her fourth win of the year in the circle, suffering three earned runs and five hits while striking out seven. Tisdale recovered after a rocky third inning and did not allow another run, keeping the Tornados within striking distance throughout the game.
After two scoreless innings to start, the Comets exploded for a five-run third inning in which they strung together five hits and took advantage of two CTX errors, and the Tornados found themselves in a 5-0 hole heading into the fourth.
In the fifth inning, back-to-back singles from Hallmark and
Bailey Bryan set up the RBI sacrifice fly off the bat of
Ashley Soto, and the Tornados cut into the lead and made it a 5-1 ballgame.
Megan Hooper led off the top of the sixth inning with a bunt single and put herself in scoring position by stealing second, and
Cristina Ayala poked a single through the left side of the infield to give CTX runners at the corner and set up an RBI fielder's choice from
Erica Riley. Stafford followed suit with a single of her own, and Hallmark delivered a three-run big fly that tied the game at 5-5.
Soto started the top of the seventh by peppering double into the left center gap, and
Hailey Flores checked in as a pinch runner, representing the go-ahead run. Flores swiped third base and put herself into position to score the tie-breaking run on a wild pitch, and the Tornados led 6-5 heading into the final frame.
Tisdale stopped the Comets' hope for a comeback in its tracks, retiring the final three batters in order, and the Tornados took game one of the three-game set 6-5.
The Tornados will complete the series against UT Dallas on Saturday, playing a doubleheader starting at noon in Richardson, Texas.
