Twitter video of final out
Box score
TEXARKANA, Texas — Xavier University
of Louisiana trailed early but maintained its composure and rallied for a 6-4 victory
Friday against Texas A&M-Texarkana in XULA's first-ever intercollegiate softball game.
XULA trailed 3-0 through two innings but
scored twice in the fifth in the inning, twice in the sixth and once in the seventh
to win in the opening game of TAMUT's Eagle Classic.
"Wow! What a way to start," XULA head coach
Leslie Ballard said. "I knew we were capable of playing well on opening day.
We've been getting better and better during practices and developing a better understanding
of the game and the situations we face. We made enough good plays and
winning plays to get the job done. Lot of heart, lot of fight."
Ballard added: "I'm so proud of our team. This
is just the first game. We still have a lot of work to do. But this was a great
win and measuring stick for our first-year program."
Endya Gillard produced the first hit and RBI in for XULA with a
two-out single to right field that scored
Vivionna Robles and cut the Eagles'
lead to 3-1 in the third inning.
Gillard's bases-loaded walk with two out in the sixth tied the score at 4,
then
Tamia Washington scored on an error to put XULA ahead to stay.
Vivionna Robles walked with the bases loaded and
two out in the seventh to send home
Destyn Jones with XULA's final run.
It was not the first time a XULA
program opened with a victory. Volleyball won 30-26, 30-26, 30-27 in its debut
against Mississippi College on Aug. 29, 2003.
It was the opener for the Eagles,
who are picked to finish third in the Red River Athletic Conference, which XULA
will join next season.