AUSTIN, Texas - The Concordia Texas softball team opened up the 2026 regular season with a pair of walk-offs in a doubleheader sweep over Southwestern University. The Tornados over came a 5-0 deficit in game one at Roberts Family Field on Tuesday.

GAME ONE: W, 6-5 (8 Innings)

The Pirates struck first in the second with three runs. They then added another two  runs in the fourth. 

CTX found life in the bottom of the sixth with their first run off back-to-back doubles from Malarie Mican & Kylie Denaro. CTX then capitalized with runners on the corners where a double steal scored Denaro to make it 5-2.

Down to their final three outs, CTX put two runners in scoring position with a groundout-RBI from Harley Drouillard scoring Katie Bethke. Denaro would then tie the game up with a clutch RBI-double to bring home Mican & Marivel Reyes.

In extra innings, both teams start a runner on second base. The Tornados would survive the top half of the frame when an apparent sacrifice fly by the Pirates turned into two outs when the runner on third was called out for leaving early.

CTX then claimed the victory with a RBI-fielder's choice from Mia Post that scored the winning run.

BOX SCORE STANDOUTS
Kylie Denaro 3-4, 3 RBI
Malarie Mican 2-4, 2 R
Lilly Longoria 2-3

GAME TWO: W, 6-5

Carrying momentum over from game one, the first four Tornados reached base in the first frame as Mican, Denaro, & Kirk all scored on RBI-singles for a 3-0 advantage. 

Later in the bottom of the third with runners on the corners, Christian Everett slapped a base-hit through the right side to score Kamryn Kothman. 

Southwestern cut into their deficit with a run scored in the top of the fourth, but Concordia matched the run with a Kirk RBI-single to left center that scored the speedy Mican from second.

The Pirates made it 5-3 with a pair of runs scored in the fifth. Southwestern then threatened to even the game with the first two runners getting on safely in the top of the sixth, but CTX recorded three straight outs to keep the visitors at bay.

Down to their last three outs, Southwestern put their first three runners on base and tied the game up. Concordia would respond valiantly as a RBI-double up the right field line by Everett scored Lilly Longoria to walk off the game.

BOX SCORE STANDOUTS
Kylie Kirk 3-4, 2 RBI
Christian Everett 3-4, 2 RBI
Malarie Mican 2 R, 1 BB

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