LADY RAMS SPLIT HOME FINALE
April 24, 2006

FORT WORTH, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan softball team (29-17) split a doubleheader against Northwest Oklahoma State University (28-19) in their final day of competition at Sycamore Park this season.  The Lady Rams took an 8-6 win in game one before falling 11-3 in game two.

In game one, the Rams took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on Tara Sharp’s 17th home run of the season, a three-run shot to left.  In the second, the Rangers made it 3-2 with two runs on two hits.  The Rams responded with an RBI double from Alicia Wylie in the bottom of the second to bring the score to 4-2.

In the top of the third, NWOSU used four singles to plate three runs and take a 5-4 lead.  That score stood until an RBI single from Marie Stone tied the game in the bottom of the sixth.  Rachel Hampton followed Stone with her 16th home run of the season, a three-run blast that gave Texas Wesleyan an 8-5 lead.

NWOSU added an unearned tally in the seventh for the 8-6 final.  Marie Stone improved to 4-6 on the season after tossing 4.2 innings of relief.  Stone allowed one unearned run on eight hits while striking out six.

Chelsie Wallace (10-9) suffered the loss after allowing eight runs on 13 hits in six innings of work.

Stone also led the Rams at the plate by going 3-4.  Hampton and Sharp each drove in three runs.

In game two, the Rangers broke a scoreless tie in the fourth when Tanya Parker reached on a fielder’s choice.  Parker later scored when Lady Ram catcher Elizabeth Brady could not get around the home plate umpire to retrieve a wild pitch.

Tara Sharp put the Rams on top with her second homer of the day, a two-run shot in the fourth.  However, in the top of the fifth, the Rangers took a 4-2 lead.  After NWOSU loaded the bases with one out thanks to two Texas Wesleyan errors, Elisa Torres ripped a two-run single off of pitcher Michelle Jones’ leg, and Parker got another run home with a sacrifice fly.

In the sixth, the Rangers used six walks, two singles, and a Texas Wesleyan error to plate seven runs and take an 11-3 lead.

Jennifer Ortega (7-3) got the win after allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits in six innings pitched.  Tara Sharp fell to  2-2 on the year with the loss.  Jones pitched well, allowing four runs (one earned) on eight hits in five innings.

The Lady Rams return to action in their regular season finale, an RRAC doubleheader with Houston Baptist University on Saturday.  Game one is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.