MARSHALL, Texas - In the opening day of the ASC Tournament, the Concordia Texas softball team knocked off UMHB by a score of 4-1 and McMurry by a score of 9-5. The Tornados' bats came alive on Thursday as they combined for 25 hits in the two games at Jason Bell Park on Thursday.

vs. UMHB: W, 4-1

The Tornados struck first with an Emily Schmuck sacrifice fly that scored Kylie Pavlicek in the top of the second. Later in the frame, Kylie Denaro doubled to left center and rounded Megan Hooper home for a 2-0 lead. 

CTX pushed their advantage to 3-0 in the top of the third when Pavlicek launched a RBI-double to score Grace Coleman. The Crusaders reduced the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the third, but Concordia extended  their lead back to three runs with a RBI-single by Denaro that scored Hooper in the sixth. This would be the final score of the game as Concordia Texas moved on to play McMurry in the winner's bracket.

BOX SCORE STANDOUTS
Kylie Denaro 2-4, 2 RBIs
Grace Coleman 2-3, 1 Run, 1 SB, 1 BB
Megan Hooper 2 Runs, 1 BB
Kylie Pavlicek 1 RBI, 1 Run
Mayson Post CG, 4 Hits, 1 ER, W

vs. McMurry, W 9-5

McMurry loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the second, but CTX escaped out of the frame unharmed with a 6-2-5 double play to help avoid damage. The Tornados then opened up the scoring in the fourth with a bunt-single by Hooper to score Madeline Velasquez. In the next at bat, Schmuck singled up the middle to score Ellie Congalton. CTX then made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly by Christian Everett to round Hooper to home. 

The Warhawks cut into the deficit with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth, but CTX kept up their offensive momentum in the fifth frame with a pair of runs scored by Addison Lehew & Molly Olivarez. Extending their lead even more in the sixth, Concordia scored four more runs; highlighted with a two-RBI single by Lehew. The Warhawks scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth, Concordia would ultimately shut the door to advance to the next round.

BOX SCORE STANDOUTS
Addison Lehew 4-4, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs
Kylie Denaro 4-5
Megan Hooper 2-4, 2 RBIs, 1 Run
Molly Olivarez 2-3, 1 Run
Kylie Pavlicek 2-4, 1 RBI

Concordia Texas will now take on ETBU on Friday with an automatic spot to the championship round on the line. First pitch is scheduled for 3pm.

To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX softball program, follow us on social media (@ctxathletics) and visit athletics.concordia.edu