FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University softball team (20-17, 18-4) took the first game of the series 3-1 against Huston-Tillotson University (10-25, 8-11 RRAC) on “Think Pink” day, honoring  those who are fighting breast cancer at Sycamore Park on Saturday.

The first pitch was thrown by Amy Cline, mother of third baseperson, Lindsay Cline, who is currently in battle with breast cancer. The softball program also had a raffle and concession in which all proceeds went to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Foundation. 

The Lady Rams fell behind early when Huston-Tillotson seemingly caught the Wesleyan off guard in the first inning. Meagan Alvarez led off the inning with a single to right field. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position. A single by Roxanne Rodriguez put runners at the corners with one out. Alexis Beltran struck out the next batter for the second out, and Courtney Hendon hit a RBI single to left field to take a 1-0 lead. The Lady Rams did well to not let the inning get out of hand as Tillotson left the bases loaded for the third out.

The next three innings were scoreless as both pitchers battled, keeping most batters off balanced. 

Texas Wesleyan fought back in the fifth inning, taking the lead in the process. Raven Moreno reached on an error to start the inning. Makelle Akin was a step out on a sacrifice bunt. A pop out on the next play put the Lady Rams in a corner with two away, but the clutch hitting Ashleigh Jiminez doubled to center field and tied the game with a RBI. Cline singled to right center for another RBI to put the Rams on top 2-1. Kali Jester reached on another error and Jiminez scored to give the Rams a 3-1 lead.

Beltran closed out the game to pick up her thirteenth win of the season, tossing all seven innings. She gave up one run on just four hits, walked two, struck out six. 

Jiminez went 2 for 3 with a RBI, Cline went 1 for 2 with a RBI in the win.

The Lady Rams will close out the series with Huston-Tillotson with a double header starting at noon tomorrow.