ALEXANDRIA, LA – Texas Wesleyan Softball (RV, 2-5) was one inning away from topping host LSU-Alexandria (5-3) but fell 5-1 in the nightcap after No. 17 William Carey University out of Mississippi won the tournament opener against the Lady Rams, 8-0, earlier Friday.
In the bottom of the 6th of the contest with LSUA - bases loaded - LSU-Alexandria's Lauren Rachal hit a double and drove home three runs. After a single and a four-run lead built, Texas Wesleyan did their best to come back.
With two outs,
Jenna Rhoades was walked, followed by
Savannah Brixey's single to right-center – Rhoades advanced to third. Unfortunately, Sutton lined out to the pitcher and the Generals – who went 2-1 at the Cowtown Classic last week in Fort Worth – came away with the triumph.
The tournament features No. 8 Mobile (Ala.), No. 17 William Carey and the Lady Rams, three of the top teams in the country and serves as William Carey's opening weekend after they also scooped up a 4-0 win over Southwest Assemblies of God on the tourney's first day.
Brixey made contact on both of her at-bats against LSUA and was walked once.
Taylor Sutton went 2-of-4 with a RBI in the fifth.
The fifth inning started with a
Kaylee Davenport double, who then advanced to third on a batted ball. After Rhoades was hit by a pitch and Brixey put down a sacrifice bunt, the Generals decided to go home and successfully tagged out Davenport. After Rhoades advanced to second,
Taylor Sutton singled to right-center and Rhoades managed to score.
Lacy Mann – who also doubled for a hit in the fourth deep to centerfield – pitched 5 2/3 innings.
Hailey Hollingsworth came in to halt the sixth.
TOURNAMENT OPENER
In the morning battle, William Carey pitcher Lindsey Johnson held the Lady Rams to just one hit, walking one. The one to break her hopes of a perfect game was
Sandra Lopez – a single that started off the third inning right.
The game was scoreless through three innings, as TXWES pitcher
Makenna Aycock and her teammates behind her battled to keep five runners stranded. Aycock struck out three of the 19 batters she faced.
Things took a turn for the worse in the fourth, when William Carey scored six runs. Neither team committed an error.
SEEING THE COUNTRY
Just in the first nine games of the season, TXWES will have played teams from Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Lady Rams will be challenged by Mobile and a second stint with William Carey. First pitch for those two games are slated for 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively.
