DURANT, Okla. - The Texas Wesleyan softball team split a doubleheader against Southeastern Oklahoma State Tuesday afternoon at Lady Savage Field. The Lady Rams defeated SOSU, 2-1, but dropped the second game, 9-4.

     In the opening game, junior pitcher Marie Stone held the Lady Savages in check striking out five batters in the first four innings.

     SE Oklahoma State (11-4) finally cracked the Lady Rams in the bottom of the fifth inning. Rightfielder E Marquez singled in centerfielder R Lynn to put the Lady Savages ahead, 1-0.

     Texas Wesleyan (7-2) fought right back, scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Leftfielder Rachel Hampton led off with a double to left field. Hampton scored on a failed pickoff attempt by SOSU catcher T. Irby to tie the score, 1-1. First baseman Brooke McNabb reached base on an error by Lynn. She then stole second and scored the winning run on a single by shortstop Vanessa Urteaga.

     Stone (3-1) picked up the victory, allowing one run on five hits, while striking out seven batters in seven innings of work

     In the second game, SOSU struck quickly scoring five runs in the first inning and two more in the second inning.

     The Lady Rams cut the lead to five, with two runs in the top of the third inning. Rightfielder Jessica Bancroft reached base on a one-out single, stole second base and scored on a single by Urteaga, who also advanced to third base on an error by Lynn on the play. Stone then singled to right field, scoring Urteaga.

     The rally was short lived as the Lady Savages tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third inning.

     Texas Wesleyan tallied two runs in the sixth inning. Stone led off the inning with a single and catcher Amanda Milam followed with her fourth home run of the season to make the score, 9-4.

     Junior Devin Blew (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing nine runs on 16 hits, while striking out one batter in six innings of work.

     Texas Wesleyan is off to its best start since 1999, when the Lady Rams opened the season, 7-2-1.

     The Lady Rams will be back in action Saturday when they travel to take on UT-Tyler. The doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. in Tyler, Texas.