BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 HOUSTON – The Concordia Texas softball team opened their season on the road against Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference foe St. Thomas (TX), falling in a doubleheader on Sunday.

In the opening game of the doubleheader, Cristina Ayala had a pair of hits and a run scored as the Tornados jumped out to a 4-0 advantage, but the Celts scored five runs in the fifth and went on to win it 5-4.

Concordia Texas scored at least a run in the first three frames, taking a 4-0 advantage after three innings.

In the first, Ashley Hallmark brought home the first run of the season on an RBI groundout. Amber Hatfield followed with an RBI single into center and the Tornados doubled their lead.

Concordia Texas tacked on a run in each the second and third innings on sac bunts.

Meanwhile, Bailey Tisdale was in cruise control, allowing only one hit through the first four frames.

She ran into trouble in the fifth though, as UST batted around, scoring five runs on six hits and went in front 5-4.

The Tornados sought a late rally in the seventh as Myranda Billman led off with an infield single. The Celts turned a double play to end the game after Ayala lined out to short and Billman was caught off the bag as CTX fell 5-4.

Besides Ayala, Hallmark and Hatfield each had a hit and an RBI in the game, while Erica Riley recorded a hit and scored a run.

In the second game of the afternoon, the Tornados struggled at the plate, tallying only one hit.

St. Thomas scored a run in three of the first four frames, leading 3-0 heading to the fifth.

Kylie Woods, in her first career start, led off the inning with a double to right. Caylee Spangle pinch-ran for Woods and came around to score on an Emily Moses fielder's choice to make it 3-1. The inning continued after a Billman walk and CTX made it a one-run game on Bailey Bryan's sac fly.

In the bottom half of the frame, UST batted around and broke the game open with a seven-run inning and ended the game by run-rule 10-2.

The Tornados will return home for their season opener, hosting Howard Payne to open the conference play schedule. The series will begin with a doubleheader on Friday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Tornado Softball Field.