SAN ANTONIO – The Wildcats opened the 2010 softball season with a split of their two games at the St. Mary's Classic on Friday. ACU took a 6-3 win over UT-Permian Basin in the first game and dropped a 4-3 decision to Southeastern Oklahoma in the nightcap.
Opening the second game of the day ACU took an early lead just as they did in their first game of the day. After Melissa Mendoza and Shawna Barrow both reached Nancy Sawyers double to center field and drove in Mendoza, as Barrow was tagged out at home trying to score.
Southeastern tied the game in the second as they were able to manufacture a run moving Morales on a sacrifice bunt and later scoring on a single.
The Wildcats added runs in the third and fourth innings after holding the Savage Storm scoreless in the top of the third. Barrow was able to score this time on a single up the middle from Andi Anti in the third to give the Wildcats back the lead 2-1. After Southeastern again tied the game in the top of the fourth the Wildcats again took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Jenny Kulp led off the inning with a double to center and would later score on a passed ball.
That was the last lead ACU would have as Southeastern would tie the game in the fifth and score what would be the game winning run in the sixth. The Wildcats would try to mount a comeback in the sixth when Brianna Fowlkes walked to lead off the inning, but pinch runner Erin Fudge was left at second.
Jacque Gregoire scattered seven hits over five innings as she got a no-decision. She also struck out five in the ACU loss. Freshmen Shelby Hall got the loss for the Wildcats in two innings of relief as she gave up three hits and one run in her first collegiate action.
In the first game of the day and season ACU defeated UT-Permian Basin 6-3 as junior transfer Brittany Rexroat threw four innings to pick up the first victory of the season.
ACU scored two quick runs in the top of the first inning as Mendoza doubled to lead off the game as was drove in by Barrow as she tripled off the center field wall. She would score on an error by the Falcons as Stephanie Tingle's bunt caused a quick throw. Barrow and Tingle were both responsible for half of the Wildcats runs.
Rexroat pitched four innings and gave up all three of the Falcon runs. The Falcons scored a run in the bottom half of the first as Alisha Carrasco singled and stole second. She later scored on a double by Kristy Leal to make the score 2-1.
UTPB added two more hits in the third from Carrasco and Leal to give the Falcons a 3-2 lead. However, ACU would tie the score in the top half of the fourth after Candice Miller singled to lead off the inning. Pinch runner Genevie Ramirez would steal second and tie the game as Kulp hit a sacrifice fly to left.
The Wildcats took the lead for good in the top of the fifth as Barrow recorded her third hit and would later score. Tingle recorded her second RBI of the game after she singled and drove in Barrow and Mendoza who doubled to left. ACU added another run in the top of the seventh as Barrow scored her third run of the game as the shortstop Anti got her only hit of the game with a single up the middle.
Junior Kim White threw three scoreless innings of relief shutting down the Falcons. White did not allow a hit as she walked two and struck out one in relief for the Wildcats.
ACU who is now 1-1 on the young season will turn around and play the 9 a.m. game against East Central. Later in the day the Wildcats will take on Texas A&M-International in their fourth game of the St. Mary's Classic before finishing up on Sunday.
