FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University softball team (3-5) split a double header (13-14, 8-7) with Clarke University (1-1) at Sycamore Park on Thursday.
 
The Crusaders jumped all over the Lady Rams in the top of the first taking full advantage of a 20 plus mph wind that wreaked havoc and played a part in a couple of costly errors including an infield single that turned into a run to lead off the contest. The Crusaders blooped in two more hits to take a 3-0 advantage right off the bat.
 
BaileyTerry helped Texas Wesleyan with a two out blast to straight away center field for a homerun to cut the lead to 3-1.
 
The Lady Rams tied the game in the second inning after Shelby Reddington and Kayla Prachyl teamed up for a pair of singles to load the bases. A fielder's choice play and an error led to the score being evened at 3-3.
 
Clarke answered in the third inning with an Ally Renforth home run to right field to make it a 4-3 game.
 
With the wind playing a major factor, neither teamed seemed able to take advantage defensively, as the Lady Rams came back with a rally in the bottom of the third. Two Crusader errors nursed a four run inning highlighted by a two run smash over the left center wall for a home run to give the Rams a 7-4 lead.
 
The Crusaders used the wind to their advantage again in the fourth. Clarke hit two singles to put two on before Kayla O'Brien hit a pop up that the wind carried over the center field fence to change leads again at 9-7. The Crusaders would go on to add five more runs to take a commanding 14-7 lead.
 
 The Rams added a run in the fourth after an Aizia Azarcon lead-off double down the left field line led to a Samantha Vasquez RBI single down the left field line.
 
Azarcon got things started again in the sixth with a line drive shot the sailed past the center field wall for a home run to cut the deficit to 14-11 heading into the seventh inning.
 
Texas Wesleyan posted a three up-three down inning in the top of the seventh, and put together three consecutive hits with one away culminating in an Azarcon two RBI single to bring the Rams within one run at 14-13.
 
Azarcon led the attack going 4 for 5 with four RBI and a home run. Prachyl went 2 for 5 with a pair of RBI in the game. Bailey Terry went 3 for 4 with a RBI and three runs scored.
 
In game two, the Lady Rams posted two spot with a Bailey Terry Homerun to center field in the first inning.
 
The Crusaders answered in a big six run rally on eight hits to gain a 6-2 advantage.
Texas Wesleyan tied the game in the third. Samantha Vasquez hit a RBI single to start the run. Prachyl scored on a pass ball before Lauren Davis knocked in two more run with a base knock to make it 6 apiece.
 
Clarke broke the tie to take a 7-6 lead on a passed ball in the fourth inning.
 
TWU answered in the fifth, starting with another Davis RBI single to tie the game. Haley Neill gave Wesleyan an 8-7 edge with a RBI base knock that proved to be important as the game was called in the bottom of the sixth inning due to darkness.
 
Davis led the Lady Rams going 3 for 3 with a trio of RBI. Prachyl was 3 for 3 in the win. Terry went 1 for 3 with two RBI on her Homerun.
 
The Lady Rams will play in the North Texas Softball Bash at Jennifer McFalls Park in Grand Prairie, TX. Wesleyan starts the day with a noon matchup with UT Permian Basin before taking on Eastern New Mexico at 2:00 pm.