FORT WORTH - Texas Wesleyan Softball (5-15, 2-4 SAC) played some of its best softball of the season Saturday on a near-perfect day at Sycamore Park, getting stellar consistent pitching from Makenna Aycock and plenty of offense in 6-2 and 8-4 victories over Oklahoma Panhandle State (12-8, 3-5 SAC).

Things felt different from the start Saturday. After getting down 2-0 in the top of the first, Aycock was able to work out of a jam and strand two, minimalizing the damage. The Lady Rams got four singles in the first two innings (Jenna Rhoades, Taylor Sutton, Bailey Terry and Savannah Brixey) before getting runs home in the third.

The inning started with a well-hit double by Chyann Jarrett, as the bats continued to connect. After two walks to load the bases, Lacy Mann came up huge with a single down the middle, scoring one. Katherine Knotts scored on an error by the pitcher and then Mann got home on an error by the catcher, trying to catch Knotts stealing second - both over-throws.

Taking full advantage of Aggies mistakes and coupling that trend with team defense helped the Lady Rams keep the lead. With two on in the top of the third, the Aggies flied out to Rhoades. In the fourth, Jena Konieczka popped up to Jarrett - two left stranded again. Konieczka, who came in to the day leading OPSU in batting average and in RBI, was just 1-for-7 in the doubleheader.

In the fifth, Aycock earned a strikeout - looking - sending two more off the bags and into the dugout. With the bases loaded in the sixth, it was Hailey Hollingsworth's turn in left field to end the inning. In total, Texas Wesleyan's defense stranded 12.

GAME 2
After giving up runs in the top of the first again - three this time - the Lady Rams wasted no time tying the game up before moving on to the next frame. Off Rhoades and Terry singles, Mann once again came up with a timely hit, ripping the ball down the left-field line, likely bringing some chalk with it, scoring Terry and Hollingsworth who had reached on a walk. Rhoades scored the first run of the game on Terry's single.

The Lady Rams did enough work in the bottom of the fourth to comfortably put the second game away. A couple of errors scored Knotts on a Brixey single and with two outs down, OPSU made a mess of the ending. Sutton was hit by a pitch, Jarrett was walked and Terry doubled with the bases loaded - scoring all three runners - the next at bat, sending half of the Sycamore Park crowd into a frenzy of joy.

AYCOCK BRILLIANCE
The play of the day came in the top of the seventh of Game 2. Trying to rally, Jewell Lee whacked the ball right towards Aycock's head, who instinctively put her hands up to block her face. Her glove experienced whiplash as the ball found it perfectly. It was an eye-opening play to cap an eye-opening performance.

Aycock pitched both games - all of both games - facing 66 different batters. She struck out 12, walked just five and hit none. She threw over 230 pitches improving her record to 3-7.

WHAT'S NEXT
A pair of home games, a pair of opponents. No. 2 University of Science and Arts will come in with plenty of momentum - still unbeaten this season at 19-0 - for a doubleheader Friday. The Lady Rams will see Mid-America Christian on Saturday for two games. Both doubleheaders will start at 2 p.m.

First, Texas Wesleyan will face Southwest Assemblies of God on the road Tuesday for two at 2 p.m.