• by Travis Hendryx •

ABILENE, Texas- The Sul Ross State University softball team dropped two ASC contests to host Hardin-Simmons Friday in Abilene.

Following a 3-1 setback in the opening game, the Lady Lobos fell in a 7-2 decision in game two.

Game 1: HSU-3, SRSU-1

A single by Payslee Sims in the opening inning scored Camryn Hardin for an early 1-0 lead.

The Cowgirls scored all three of their runs in the third and shut down a Sul Ross rally to claim the 3-1 victory.

The Lady Lobos were held to four hits in the effort while Hardin-Simmons tallied nine.

Freshman starter Jodie Vaughn was charged with the loss after five innings with relief from fellow freshman Rebecca Rodriguez who worked the final frame.

Vaughn allowed all three of the Cowgirls’ runs while yielding eight hits with two strikeouts. Rodriguez allowed a hit while striking out one Cowgirl batter in the bottom of the sixth.

Game 2: HSU-7, SRSU-2

Sul Ross outhit the opposition by a 10-9 margin.

The home team scored the initial run in the bottom of the first.

Sully knotted the game in the top of the fourth as Annika Canaba scored off a sacrifice fly by Rodriguez.

Hardin-Simmons broke the tie in the bottom of the inning with two runs before Rodriguez singled Canaba across in the sixth to pull the Lady Lobos to within a run.

The Cowgirls unleashed a four-run attack in their half of the sixth to take a 7-2 lead and the eventual win.

Canaba led the team at 3-for-4 hitting while Hailey Guillen finished at 2-for-3.

Kyndall Dove was tagged with the loss throwing all seven innings.

Sul Ross falls to 7-8 on the season and 5-8 in ASC play while the Cowgirls improve to 10-10 and 7-4.

The two teams will close out their three-game series with a single, seven inning contest beginning at noon Saturday.