HOUSTON, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowgirl softball team opened the season on Friday night at the University of St. Thomas, going down 9-4 and 11-3 in the doubleheader on the road.
The Cowgirls started the day off well with a 3-0 lead over the Celts in game one. Freshman
Kinzley Cantu out of Abilene high led off the game with a double and came around to score on an
Ella Salinas RBI.
Ava Dennis and Salinas added one more RBI each in the fourth inning.
UST finished out the game with two runs in the fourth and seven runs in the sixth inning to win 9-4. The Celts came out up 5-0 in the first inning of game two and led all the way in the 11-3 win in six innings.
Akaysia Grogan had a fine start in game one in the loss, ending with only four earned runs thanks to a pair of Cowgirl defensive errors. She went six innings with ten hits, three walks, and three strikeouts.
Grace Thompson,
Kinzley Cantu, and Salinas each had two hits in game one.
Emily Jacobs,
Madi Hubbard, Dennis, and freshman
Alyssa Lusk from James Bowie all had one hit against St. Thomas.
The Cowgirls had 11 hits in game two but only converted them into three runs in the loss.
Kinzley Cantu had two more hits in the second game, as did Thompson.
Jazlynn Cantu,
Honor Knott,
Bailey Miller, Salinas, Jacobs, and Dennis added a hit each for Hardin-Simmons as well.
Thompson had one RBI, and
Addyson Kahklen drove in a run on a sac fly.
Jazlynn Cantu went yard with a solo home run for another Cowgirl RBI for a highlight on offense in game two.
Freshman
Kimma Kincaid hailing from Wylie East started game two at UST with four innings in the loss and two strikeouts. Cowgirl junior
Makenna Holloway transferred in from St. Edward's, a Katy native, and pitched one inning in relief for HSU. Holloway also started game one in left field.
The Cowgirls start the season off 0-2 and will play at Huston Tillotson for two games next Tuesday, Feb. 10 beginning at 3 p.m. in Austin, Texas.
--- www.hsuathletics.com ---
