TYLER, Tex.—University of Texas at Tyler Softball (5-0) continued their early season winning streak with an 8-0 victory over Hardin-Simmons University (3-4) in five innings ate Suddenlink Field.
It did not take long for the Patriots to get on the board, scoring the first run of the contest in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, senior infielder
Victoria Gonzalez (Elgin, Texas) doubled to left center and sophomore catcher
Ashley Perez (Pflugerville, Texas) followed with a base on balls. Senior infielder
Theresa Gonzalez (Elgin, Texas) singled to center field where the Cowgirl fielder committed an error allowing Victoria Gonzalez to score.
The floodgates opened in the second inning with the Patriots plating three runs. A leadoff double by freshman utility
Lauren Harris (Sugar Land, Texas) got the inning started followed by a Patriot being walked and hit by a pitch. Even after a double play with two runners on, UT Tyler three-consecutive hits including back-to-back doubles by Victoria Gonzalez and Perez. Both hits brought in a run to put the Patriots ahead, 4-0.
Neither team was able to plate a run in the third inning, but Patriots' starting pitcher senior
Colleen Bentke (Brenham, Texas) struck out two HSU batters to bring her total for the game to seven. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the first four batters reached safely including sophomore infielder
Mak Dominguez (Austin, Texas) who added two runs with her base hit single. Harris followed Dominguez with a sacrifice fly to center field to put the Patriots ahead, 8-0.
The Cowgirls were unable to mount a comeback in the top of the fifth inning despite recording a leadoff walk. Bentke finished the game with eight strikeouts and allowed just four baserunners. She improved to 3-0 on the season with the victory and now owns a 1.56 earned run average.
The series will continue on Saturday afternoon with a double header beginning at 1 p.m. The third and final game of the series will take place immediately after the conclusion of the first game at Suddenlink Field.
