FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University softball team (2-1) started off the season with a pair of wins and a loss in the first day of the Cowtown Classic tournament. Wesleyan defeated Graceland 11-3, just fell short to Baker University 5-4, and ended the day with an 11-0 win over Southwestern University at Gateway Park on Friday.

The Lady Rams threatened to score in the first inning, with an Ashleigh Jiminez two out double to left, an Alexis Beltran single through the right side, and Christina Kelley drew a walk to load the bases. Hopie Perez sent a shot toward the right center gap but stayed in the air long enough for an out.

The Lady Jackets started strong with three consecutive singles with the third producing a run to take an early 1-0 lead.

Texas Wesleyan tied the game 1-1 in the third inning with a Kelley RBI single to center that scored Raven Moreno from second base.

The Lady Rams got in scoring position again in the fourth inning when Dakota Whittern drew a walk to start things off. Lyndsay Cline put down a bunt past the pitcher to move courtesy runner Courtney Orebaugh, but found herself with a base hit bunt. Kali Jester put down another bunt to move the runners but also found herself with a base hit bunt to load the bases with no outs. Moreno came through with a two RBI double to left center to give the Rams a 3-1 lead. Jimenez gave Wesleyan a 4-1 cushion with a RBI sacrifice fly.

The Lady Rams doubled their score in the seventh with a 2 RBI double down the right field line, a Jester ground out RBI, and a Mari Rangel RBI single up the middle to make it an 8-1 ball game. Jimenez put an exclamation point on the inning and the game with a three run homer to left center to make it 11-1 heading into the final half inning.

Graceland scored two in the bottom of the seventh, but the deficit was too large to overcome, falling to Wesleyan 11-3.

After giving up the run in the first inning, Beltran (1-0) completely shut down the Lady Yellow jackets. She pitched all seven innings gave up three runs on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts. She also kept the ball from leaving the infield for over four innings.

The Lady Rams fell behind early in the game against Baker University, after a bad throw made it possible for a fielder’s choice play to score Summer Kelley and give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. A RBI base hit from Tara Heinrich to make it a 2-0 game in the second inning.

The Lady Wildcats extended the lead in the fifth with a two run bomb by Erin Greenwood made it a 4-0 ballgame.

The Lady Rams got on the board in the bottom half of the fifth, as a Cline double to right made way for a RBI single up the middle from Orebaugh to make it 4-1 Wildcats.

The Lady Rams got the tying run at the plate after a pair of singles from Cline and Rangel put runners at the corners for Moreno. Moreno reached on a fielder’s choice as all runners ended up safe to cut the lead to 5-2. Jimenez, who represented the tying run, drew a full count before whacking one to right center for a 2 RBI double that brought Wesleyan within one at 5-4. The valiant effort came up short as a fly out for the last out gave Baker the 5-4 win.

Morgan Johnson (0-1) picked up the loss tossing seven complete innings, giving up five runs (only two earned), on eight hits.

Wesleyan got ahead of the Moundbuilder’s in the top of the second with a monster two out rally that scored nine runs. Chelsea Boles got things off to a good start with a two RBI single. Moreno drove in a run with a single up the middle. Jimenez stayed hot with a two RBI double to left center. Whittern who led off the inning hit a two RBI single to right center. Cline hit a three run blast over the left center fence to push the lead to 9-0.

The Lady Rams made it a 10-0 game with an Ashley Seibel RBI single to right center in the fourth inning. Cline knocked in a run behind her for an 11-0 advantage.

The Lady Rams were able to keep the lead, taking an 11-0 mercy rule shutout win after five innings.

Taylor Hodge (1-0) got the win. She tossed all five innings, giving up no runs on one hit with one walk and two strikeouts.

Jimenez led the Rams going 7-11 with eight RBI on the day. Cline had a great day as well going 7-9 with five RBI, as well as playing solid defensively at third.