ABILENE, Texas – The Concordia Texas softball team opened the series at Hardin-Simmons with a doubleheader, falling in both games Friday.
 
The Tornados took an early lead in game one but were unable to outlast the Cowgirls, falling to a walk-off homer in the seventh inning, and they were unable to string together hits in game two as they came away on the wrong end of an 8-0 score.
 
Ellie Congalton picked up three hits and three RBIs on the day, including a two-run homer in game one, and Megan Hooper totaled three hits and three RBIs as well with a bases-clearing triple.
 
In game one, the Tornados jumped out to an early lead with an offensive barrage in the first two innings.
 
In the first inning, Amaya Guerrero and Congalton led off with back-to-back singles while Maddy Ellison worked a walk, loading the bases for a three-RBI triple from Hooper. After just half an inning, the Tornados led 3-0.
 
Kylie Woods led off the second inning with a single, and Congalton drove in the run with a two-run homer to left field. Congalton's shot extended the CTX lead to 5-0.
 
In the bottom of the third, Hardin-Simmons answered with two runs on a pair of hits and a CTX error, bringing the score to 5-2.
 
The Tornados tacked on another run in the following frame with another homer, this time a solo shot from Woods, and they pushed the advantage to 6-2.
 
Hardin-Simmons evened the score in the bottom half of the fourth, plating four runs on three hits to bring the score to 6-6.
 
In the sixth inning, Woods worked a leadoff walk and Riley Ward picked up a pinch-hit double down the line, putting two runners in scoring position for back-to-back RBI hits from Congalton and Erica Riley. After five and a half innings, CTX led 8-6.
 
Hardin-Simmons answered in the bottom half, delivering a two-RBI single to tie the game at 8-8.
 
Hailee Tinajero reached base by a hit-by-pitch, but that was all for the Tornados in the top of the seventh. They entered the final frame with the score still even at 8-8.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Hardin-Simmons walked it off with one swing as they drove a homerun to centerfield. Ultimately, the Tornados fell 9-8.
 
In game two, Concordia Texas struggled at the plate, picking up only two hits and falling 8-0 in five innings by way of the seven-run rule.
 
Hooper tallied both CTX hits, knocking single in the second and fifth innings.
 
A five-run fifth inning sealed the Tornados' fate, and they dropped game two 8-0.
 
The Tornados will look to bounce back in the series finale, squaring off with Hardin-Simmons for game three at noon Saturday.