ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons split a nonconference softball doubleheader with Southwestern on Friday afternoon at Ellis Field, dropping the opener 6-3 before bouncing back for a 3-1 win in game two.
 
In the first game, Southwestern used a four-run stretch across the first three innings to build an early lead and held off the Cowgirls late for the victory. The Pirates finished with ten hits while Hardin-Simmons recorded eight.
 
Hardin-Simmons broke through in the fifth inning when Ella Salinas delivered an RBI single before Emily Jacobs followed with a two-run home run to right field, trimming the deficit to one run.
 
Southwestern added two insurance runs in the seventh inning to secure the 6-3 win.
 
Salinas led the offensive attack with three hits with an RBI. Gabby Montanez started in the circle for the Cowgirls and picked up the loss. Montanez went six innings giving up ten hits, six runs with five of those being earned.
 
The Cowgirls responded in game two, scoring all three of their runs in the first inning and holding the Pirates to just one run on six hits the rest of the way.
 
Kinzley Cantu sparked the early rally with a leadoff double before Emily Jacobs singled to put two runners on base. Bailey Miller later drove in a run with a single, and Erin Love added another RBI as Hardin-Simmons built a 3-0 advantage.
 
Southwestern scored its lone run in the fifth inning, but the Cowgirls were able to shut out the Pirates over the final two frames to secure the win.
 
Miller led HSU with two hits with Kinzley Cantu, Emily Jacobs, and Madi Hubbard all picking up a hit each. Freshman Kimma Kincaid got the ball in game two and went the distance scattering six hits while allowing the lone run. Kincaid picked up her first win of the season.
 
With the split, Hardin-Simmons moved to 11-4 on the season. While Southwestern moved to 10-8. Hardin-Simmons will be back in action on Tuesday against McMurry with first pitch set for 6 p.m. from Ellis Field.