FORT WORTH - Texas Wesleyan Softball (2-3) got off to a hot start on the final day of the Cowtown Classic, but the rain, wind and bitter cold crashed the party in the afternoon. Overall, the Lady Rams won one of three games - defeating Bethel 8-0 (5) and falling to Oklahoma Wesleyan 8-5 and Huston-Tillotson 5-1.

STARTING STRONG
Texas Wesleyan ran roughshed over the Thrashers from Bethal (Kan.). The effort was led by Jenna Rhoades, Taylor Sutton and Hailey Hollingsworth who combined 4-of-9 at the plate with 5 RBI.

The Lady Rams stole four bases - including two from Bailey Terry - and used Hollingsworth's double to drive in the fifth and sixth runs of the game in a four-run third frame.

The fourth inning featured the most exciting play of the weekend. With Sutton at the plate, her shot down the left side sprung Bethel's third baseman into action, but her dive only deflected the ball in a different direction, causing the strong safety to fall out of position, slipping trying to make the play. All that helped Sutton get to second, scoring Rhoades and advancing Terry to third.

After the ruckus created by the bouncing ball, Bethal's catcher had her back turned a little too long and Terry took off, successfully stealing home. It capped off the Rams' first shutout of the season after getting eight in 2018.

The shutout wouldn't have been possible without excellent pitching from Makenna Aycock and Lacy Mann. Aycock pitched three innings with four strikeouts, allowing just two hits. Mann pitched two stanzas allowing just one hit, flying out five.

BEFORE THE RAIN
The first inning after a field change against Oklahoma Wesleyan had Wesleyan bragging rights trending to the Rams. Rhoades singled through the left side to bring in Aycock, who led with a triple. Rhoades stole second, Terry was walked and then Kaylee Davenport hit a shot through the right-side gap to score Rhoades, putting the Lady Rams up 2-1. 

After a spitting mist dampened the field, OKWU found a rhythm, scoring five runs in the sixth to pull ahead 8-3. The Lady Rams put up a fight, scoring in the sixth on a Katherine Knotts single. An error allowed Hollingsworth to get back to home plate.

In the bottom of the seventh, Sutton's triple was coupled with Kimani Ferguson's ground out that finished the job for Sutton.

The Lady Rams out-hit Oklahoma Wesleyan 10-7, including two successful contacts from Sutton and Hollingsworth.

BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK
After TXWES' 4 p.m. opponent backed out and left the tournament early, the Rams found a third opponent in OKWU but that game took away Texas Wesleyan's early afternoon game and the weather forced the squad into playing three different opponents in a seven hour span.

Tillotson perservered to round out the day, but the Lady Rams still earned seven hits including a 2-of-4 showing from Rhoades. Ferguson got the lone RBI. 

WRAPPING UP COWTOWN
Through the first five games of the season, Aycock leads the conference with three stolen bases and Rhoades' .333 start has her tops on the team. With four triples on opening weekend, the Lady Rams place fifth in national rankings.

WHAT'S NEXT
Texas Wesleyan heads to Alexandria, Louisiana for the LSUA Softball Invitational for Friday games against William Carey (Miss.) and host LSU-Alexandria before facing the University of Mobile (Ala.) on Saturday with a second game against William Carey to round out the weekend.