GEORGETOWN, Texas –
Cristina Ayala and
Ashley Soto each had three hits in an extra-inning affair and the Concordia Texas softball team split a doubleheader against Southwestern on Tuesday.
The Tornados entered the non-conference doubleheader on a five-game win streak, but were unable to extend it, dropping the first game 4-2 to the Pirates. In the second game of the night, CTX scored all eight of its runs over the final five innings, including a three-run ninth, for an 8-5 victory.
In the latter game, the Tornados' bats found their spark, accumulating 14 hits, led by Ayala and Soto's three-hit performances.
During the first four frames, CTX struggled to execute at the plate, stranding four runners on the base paths and trailed 1-0 as Southwestern scored a run in the second.
In the fifth, the Tornados strung together a two-out rally, jump started by
Megan Hooper's hit by pitch. After stealing second, she came around to score on
Erica Riley's single to center. Ayala reached on a hit by pitch and
Emily Moses gave CTX the lead with a single into right, making it 2-1.
The Pirates were quick to respond though, tying it up in the bottom half of the frame.
The Tornados would retake the lead once again, scoring three runs over the next two innings, including another RBI single from Riley and took a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
Southwestern answered with a rally of their own though, scoring three runs to force extra innings.
After a scoreless eighth, CTX took the lead for good in the following frame, as Ayala led off the inning with a double, spurring a three-run inning, capped off by
Val Gallardo's sac bunt to score Hallmark.
In the bottom half of the inning, Keeley Etchinson worked around a walk and an error to earn her first save of the season as the Tornados won 8-5.
In the early game of the day, CTX was only able to muster two runs and were unable to hold off a late Southwestern rally, falling 4-2.
Moses had a pair of hits and Soto had a clutch two-run single in the second to give the Tornados the early advantage.
But the Pirates scored three runs in the fifth and added one in the sixth and took a 4-2 lead into the seventh.
Concordia Texas was retired in order in the frame, snapping their five-game win streak.
The Tornados will next return back to Tornado Softball Field a three-game series against Ozarks. Concordia Texas will face the Eagles in a doubleheader on Friday, playing at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
