The University of Mary Washington softball team split its Thursday games in Tucson, Az., topping NAIA Trinity Christian University, 6-2, before falling to the defending national champion and #1 ranked Texas Lutheran University, 7-0. The Eagles move to 8-5-1 on the season.
In the opener, UMW jumped ahead with four runs in the first and never looked back. Caroline Bird provided a two-run single, and Megan Hibbs added a two-run double in the frame. The Eagles added a run in the third as Hadlea Valera knocked an RBI double to up the lead to 5-0.
After single runs from Trinity in the fourth and sixth, the Eagles scored an insurance run in the seventh on a Grace Drury RBI single. Bird and Valera each had two hits to pace UMW.
Valera allowed one earned run in seven innings in gaining the victory, allowing three hits and a walk with nine strikeouts.
In the nightcap, UMW fell to Texas Lutheran, 7-0, as the Bulldogs scored once in the first, and two in the second, third, and fourth. The Eagles were limited to three hits - singles from Rachel Remer, Hannah Bruns, and Bird.
Hibbs took the loss, allowing six earned runs on six hits in three innings.
The Eagles will wrap up their trip on Friday with a game against Madonna University.