WTAMU 12, TWU 8 - Box Score
ATU 4, TWU 3 - Box Score
WICHITA FALLS, Texas (February 21) – The Texas Woman’s University Pioneers wrapped up play at the 2009 MSU Invitational with two losses on Saturday afternoon.
West Texas A&M powered past TWU 12-8 in the Pioneers’ first game of the day. The Lady Buffs used four hits, an error, a hit batter, and a walk to piece together a six-run bottom of the fifth inning that proved to be the difference in the game. Five Pioneers – junior outfielder Billie Callahan, junior infielder Erin Hinojosa, sophomore infielder Megan Warren, freshman utility player Amy Menge, and freshman infielder Jessica Lamonica – had two hits apiece in the loss.
Hinojosa struck the biggest blow for TWU, a solo home run to lead off the third inning.
In their late game, the Pioneers were edged 4-3 by Arkansas Tech. A solid pitching performance from junior
Carly Case had the Pioneers in front 2-1 through the first five innings of the game. The Golden Suns battled back, however, and took a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth when first baseman Tiphani Boon hit a three-run homerun. Hinojosa brought the Pioneers to within one, 4-3, when she homered for the third straight game in the bottom of the sixth. Case then retired the ATU side in order in the top of the seventh giving the Pioneers one last chance for the win. The Pioneers could not capitalize, as they went three up, three down in the final half inning of the game.
“Not our best day,” was how TWU head coach Richie Bruister summed up his team’s performance. “We had a chance to win both games but we just didn’t get it done. I do think that we’re headed in the right direction though. All of the mistakes we’re making are correctable so hopefully we can get things sorted out before we get to conference play.”
The Pioneers finished the three-day, six-team tournament with a 2-3 record, good enough for fourth place in the final tourney standings. Hinojosa and Warren were both named to the All-MSU Invitational team.
Now 10-9 on the season, the Pioneers will return home this Tuesday, Feb. 24, for an evening doubleheader versus Midwestern State. First pitch against the Mustangs is scheduled for 4 p.m.