OKLAHOMA CITY, OK: The Texas Wesleyan University softball team (16-28) took two tough losses in the first day of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament at the Firelake Softball Complex on Thursday. The Lady Rams dropped a 6-0 game to No. 9 St. Gregory's University (33-8) before No. 13 the University of Science and Arts (40-7) took a 7-0 game for the Rams.
 
The Lady Rams could not get anything going against the Cavaliers, as any hard hit ball was right to the defense. Texas Wesleyan played the game as the visitors on the scoreboard as the higher seeded Cavs earned the home spot in neutral territory.  
 
Amber Tucker ripped a single into right field in the top of the first, but Wesleyan was unable to put any support behind it.
 
St. Gregory's found the board in the bottom of the first after a Melanie Gladden single with one out and one on resulted in a run. The Lady Rams did a great job of catching the lead runner trying to stretch the play, but an errant throw allowed Gladden to score off her own single to make it a 1-0 game.
 
The Cavaliers kept swinging and added a pair of runs in the second before Dani Nissen homered in the bottom of the third to make it a 4-0 game.
 
The Lady Rams were shut out the rest of the way and only able to tally three hits in the ball game, as SGU took the game 7-0.
 
Tucker, Amber Marlett, and Aizia Azarcon all went 1 for 3 in the first game of the tournament.
 
In the second game the Lady Rams faced red hot Science and Arts team that finished the season on an eight game win streak.
 
The Drovers rallied in the second inning tacking on four runs on four hits, but due in large part to a pair of Lady Ram errors to make it a 4-0 game.
 
The Lady Rams were limited by USAO ace Summer Leitka, who leads the conference in wins and ranks in the top five in the NAIA in multiple pitching categories. Texas Wesleyan pelted five hits over seven innings, their only two hit inning coming in the last inning.
 
Azarcon led off the top on the seventh with a single to left field before Courtney Kelley beat out a slap to second for a base hit. The University of Science and Arts closed the game out to take the 6-0 win.
 
Azarcon went 2 for 3, while Kelley and Marlett went 1 for 3. Prachyl went 1 for 4 in the game.
 
The Lady Rams did not have an easy draw in the first day of the tournament, facing two of the best teams in the nation.
 
Pool play will continue tomorrow when the Rams take on Southwestern Christian University at 11:00 am.