Patriots split twinbill with Tigers, remain #3 in ASC and NFCA poll

A doubleheader split with East Texas Baptist keeps the University’s softball team in third in the American Southwest Conference East Division. The

Patriots defeated the Tigers 3-1 in game two on Saturday after a 3-2 loss in game one.

Neither team scored until the fifth inning of game one. Julie Smith singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice by Amanda Busby.

Taylor Petrick rounds third on her way to home base to score a run for the Patriots against East Texas Baptist. The Patriots dropped both games of the doubleheader to fall to third place in the division. Photo by Jessica Sibbing.

The Tigers answered in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own. Back-to-singles by Hayden Furlow and Adrienne Meier led to a two RBI single by Porsha Harrison.

The Patriots loaded the bases in the sixth with one out, but failed to score. Kimber Bossom held the Tigers scoreless in the bottom of the inning, and not in the seventh.

Meir singled to start the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice and to third on a groundout.

With two outs, Rebecca Young singled up the middle to plate Meir and seal the victory for ETBU.

Bossom was handed her third loss of the season, allowing three runs on eight hits.

Tiger’s pitcher Ayrika Henderson tossed seven innings, allowing seven hits and two runs.

The Patriots bounced back to get a much needed win in game two behind another stellar performance by Stacy Shepherd.

Allison Hurt drove in the Patriots first run on a double that scored Kristin Anderson.

Anderson pinch ran for Ashley Klores, who singled earlier in the inning.

Meagan Hutson drove in the second run on a groundout that allowed Busby to score.

The Patriots took advantage of a Tiger error in the fourth to score their third run.

Klores scored after a Hutson ground ball was misplayed by Furlow.

Shepherd’s only hiccup came in the sixth inning. She issued a walk after an error loaded the bases.

Shepherd finished the game allowing only three hits in seven innings of work.

The twinbill spilt take the Patriots record to 8-4 in conference play, 23-5 overall.

They remain the number three ranked team in the country behind #2 ETBU and #1 Louisiana College, who leads the division with a record of 14-2 in conference play. ETBU remains in second.

The Patriots swept #11 ranked Mississippi College April 6 and split two games with LC on March 24.

Six doubleheaders remain before the ASC tournament begins April 29, three scheduled at home. The last two against Louisiana College on April 22 and Mississippi College on April 24.

The Patriots must finish in the top three in the division to qualify for the conference tournament.