FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University softball team (12-6) went 3-1 in the second day of the 2018 TXWES Spring Break Classic on Sunday. The Lady Rams went 1-1 with the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (9-19) before sweeping Midland University (7-6) in a pair one-run wins at Sycamore Park.
After near perfect weather yesterday, the teams were met with chilly temperatures and gusty winds of 25 mph today.
The Lady Rams capped the day in walk-off fashion, coming back from a run down against Midland in extra innings with a Taylor Sutton line drive into right field. Jenna Rhoades set up the win by tying the game at 2-2 after laying down a perfectly placed slap in between the pitcher and third baseman.
The Warriors had the game in-hand with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, when an error allowed the tying run to score to force the extra inning.
In game one, the Lady Rams held a 5-0 lead through six, but had to hold off the charging Warriors in the seventh. Sidney Stewart (4-2) went through 6.2 innings of strong work on the mound before Midland went on a four run rally. Makenna Aycock (3-1) was able to get the final out to record her first save of the season and seal the win for the Lady Rams.
Against UT – Permian Basin, the Lady Rams were stymied by Falcon starter Cindy Juarez, who went seven strong innings in the win. The Falcons, who have played 10 more games than the Lady Rams, saw the ball very well in the 12 hit game. UTPB plated at least a run in five innings on the way to the 8-1 win.
In game two with UTPB, Lizzie Souza tied the game at one apiece in the fifth inning with a home run over the wall in right-center. The score did not stay knotted up for long though, as Taylor Sutton broke the tie in the bottom of the same inning with a booming homer to straight away center.
Saeya Esparza added an insurance run in the sixth with her third consecutive hit of the ball game for a 3-1 lead that would be the eventual final. Stewart pitched a gem, going all seven, allowing just one run on seven hits, to go along with one walk and one strikeout.
Texas Wesleyan will get back to conference play with a double header with Bacone College. The Lady Rams and Warriors will square off on Wednesday, March 14 starting at noon at Sycamore Park.
