PINEVILLE, La.—The University of Texas at Tyler Softball (32-4) split a doubleheader on the road with Louisiana College (21-15) Tuesday evening. The Patriots opened with a six-inning, 9-0, shutout before falling in the second game, 3-1.
 
It was a fast start for the Patriots to open the series. Their first four batters reached base safely beginning with a leadoff single by senior outfielder Nicole Garcia (Sugar Land, Texas). The next three batters reached on a hit by pitch, fielder's choice and a walk which loaded the bases. Senior infielder Serena Saldivar (Garland, Texas) sent a fly ball into left field which drove in the first run of the game on a sacrifice.
 
Neither team could score again until the fourth inning when UT Tyler brought home five more runs. This time, Saldivar led off with a single up the middle on the first pitch she saw. Freshman infielder Allyssa Young (Franklin, Louisiana) was brought in as a pinch runner before stealing second and advancing to third on a while pitch. Sophomore infielder Mak Dominguez (Austin, Texas) brought her home on a double to left field while sophomore outfielder Haleigh Swinney (Crosby, Texas) followed with a bunt single. Sophomore outfielder Shae Harris (Brenham, Texas) then came up to the plate and sent a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Dominguez.
 
Later in the inning with the bases loaded, sophomore catcher Ashley Perez (Pflugerville, Texas) was walked to bring in the fourth run of the inning. With the bases still loaded, senior infielder Theresa Gonzales (Elgin, Texas) followed with a single to center field to make it a 6-0 Patriot lead after four innings.
 
Adding three more runs in the sixth inning, the Patriots looked to shorten the game by taking a 9-0 lead. With two runners on and one-out, Saldivar and Dominguez picked up back-to-back RBI-singles through the left side. Swinney then loaded the bases when she followed with a third-consecutive single which set up Harris for an RBI when she reached on a walk.
 
Senior left-handed pitcher Colleen Bentke (Brenham, Texas) stranded a runner in the bottom of the sixth to end the game early. She recorded her fifth shutout of the season and moved to 17-2 with a 1.42 earned run average. Offensively, Swinney led the Patriots going 4-4 at the plate with a run scored. Three other batters picked up a pair of hits while Perez was walked three times.
 
The second game of the doubleheader saw the roles reversed with the Wildcats capturing an early lead. They scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning but then had just two base runners the rest of the contest.
 
UT Tyler had a chance to get the offense going in the top of the first after Garcia led off with a single up the middle on a full count. She would be stranded at second base while another Patriot baserunner reached in the second inning but was left on.
 
Theresa Gonzales began the fourth inning with a single and Saldivar picked up a double to put runners on the corners. After the next two batters were retired, Harris was hit by a pitch to load the bases for senior outfielder Dariann Resendez (Austin, Texas). She was walked on nine pitches to bring home the lone Patriot run of the contest.
 
Threatening again in the top of the sixth, Dominguez recorded a one out single to right field while Swinney was walked with two outs to put runners at first and second base. The runners would be left there before UT Tyler was retired in order during the seventh inning. Keeping the Patriot offense at bay, the Wildcats held on for the doubleheader split with a 3-1 victory.
 
Junior right-handed pitcher Whitney Romero (Lafayette, Louisiana) tossed all six innings for the Patriots in the circle allowing just one earned run on three hits. She also struck out three batters and retired the Wildcats in order on three occasions.
 
The series concludes Wednesday at 1 p.m. with game-three of the series. The Patriots will look to pick up their 10^th series victory over an American Southwest Conference opponent this season.