HOUSTON, TEXAS (Feb. 21, 2012) -- The Our Lady of the Lake University softball team played a close doubleheader against NCAA Division 1 Texas Southern University (TSU) on Tuesday, but the Tigers came out ahead defeating the Saints 9-8 and 8-7.
 

The losses drop the Saints to 2-4 in the season, while TSU improves to 4-2.

Texas Southern University scored the first runs of the game in the bottom of the first inning when a hit from Tenesha Skrine drove in Monica Castillo. A triple from Jessica Haynes drove in Skrine, and an illegal pitch from OLLU pitcher Maegan Ramirez gave Haynes the go ahead to score to lead 3-0.
 

A single shot to second base by Saints' rightfielder Brittany Stone drove in Alissa Huerta and Kimberlee Briseno in the third inning, and the Saints now trailed 2-3.
 

TSU's Haynes drove in Katel Stanonik in the third inning and the Tigers took the 4-2 lead. The Saints had a tremendous fourth inning with hits coming from Ruby Ximenez, Meagan Potts and Coral Salazar. Ashley Elizalde hit a double and gave Julie Ramos (pinch running for Salazar) and Ximenez the opportunity to score.  Huerta reached first after being hit by Tigers'pitcher Briana Parker, and Stone reached the base on an error. Elizalde scored, and a shot out to centerfield by Kaitlyn Bourg drove in Huerta.  The Saints took over the lead at 6-4.
 

During the fifth inning, Salazar hit a pop up to third base, which gave Ximenez the opportunity to score the Saints' seventh run of the game.

The Tigers came back in the bottom of the fifth inning by scoring two runs, and they now trailed 6-7.
 

A homerun from Stone pushed the Saints to 8-6 to start the sixth inning. During the bottom of the sixth inning, Shelby Blanar relieved starting pitcher Ramirez, and a homerun from Giana Robinson took the game to 8-7 with the Saints' lead.
 

Tigers' Fitima Alvizo and Jessica Miller scored in the seventh inning to take the 9-8 lead and the win.
 

Stone went 2-for-4 and added four RBIs. Ximenez finished at 3-for-4, while Elizalde went 1-for 3, adding two RBIs.
 

After a scoreless first inning in the second game, the Saints got on the scoreboard after a hit from Briseno drove in Potts and Amanda Hinojosa. The Tigers answered quickly to close out the inning with three runs.
 

During the third inning, Stone tripled and scored on an error from Tigers' shortstop Princess Daniels. With the game tied at three, the Saints' Huerta drove in Elizalde in the fourth inning to take the  4-3  lead. The Tigers came back to close out the inning with a run by Alvizo to tie the score at four.
 

Hinojosa scored in the fifth inning, and Elizalde's double brought in Potts giving the Saints the 6-4 lead.  Sera Quiroga relieved Kailyn Miller at pitcher for the Saints, and Skrine scored for the Tigers to come within one of the Saints at 5-6.  
 

The Saints failed to score in the sixth inning; and at the bottom of the inning, the Tigers drove in three runs to take the lead at 8-6.
 

Ximenez was able to score at the top of the seventh inning, but no other runs were scored, so the game ended with the Tigers' 8-7 win.
 

Stone went 3-for-4, while Hinojosa and Ximenez finished at 2-for-4. Elizalde also got two hits on three at bats.


The Saints will travel to Shawnee, Okla. to take part in the St. Gregory's University Invitational. On Friday, the Saints will play Oklahoma City University at noon, and Bellevue University at 1:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Saints will face Southwestern College at 10:30 a.m. and Southern Nazarene University at 4:30 p.m.