TAMU-T Eagles’ softball 17-game winning streak snapped

TEXARKANA, Texas — The winning streak is over. It lasted 17 games, but the TAMU-T Eagles softball team finally tasted defeat for the first time this season, falling to LSU-Alexandria, 4-2, in the first game of a conference doubleheader Tuesday at Bramlett Field in Spring Lake Park.

The Eagles, ranked No. 4 in the NAIA national poll, rallied to win the second game, 7-5.

TAMU-T is 18-1 overall and 3-1 in Red River Athletic Conference play while LSU-Alexandria goes to 8-12, 1-3.

The Generals’ top three in the batting lineup did the damage against Eagle lefty Anna Westberry (7-1), who suffered her first loss this season. The top three banged four hits, and scored all four runs.

Westberry was touched for four runs (three earned) on six hits in five innings in the circle. She struck out six and walked one. Stephanie Chico threw two scoreless innings in relief.

Macey Cutsinger, Katie Slamer, Baylee Stautzenberger and Grace Cantu, batting 1-4 in the lineup, had hits for the Eagles. Slamer’s was a double and Cutsinger scored two runs. Stautzenberger and Patti Swimley had RBIs for the hosts.

In the second game, TAMU-T rallied from a 3-2 fourth-inning deficit to come back and win 7-5.

Macie Reeves belted a 2-run home run and Maceu

Cutsinger and Sarah Velasquez had run-scoring doubles for the Eagles. Stautzenberger didn’t have a hit, but drove in two runs.

Molly Harrison had two hits and an RBI and scored twice and Swimley added two hits and scored a run.

Mackenzie Vittitow (60) was the winning pitcher, allowing three runs (all earned) on eight hits in five innings in the circle. She fanned three and walked one.

Reliever Stephanie Chico picked up the save, giving up two runs on two hits in two innings of work. She struck out two and didn’t walk anyone.

The Eagles return to RRAC action Friday, playing at Southwest in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.