ABILENE, Texas – The Celts of the University of St. Thomas saw their five-game winning streak snapped Wednesday as they dropped a non-conference doubleheader at Hardin-Simmons.

The host Cowgirls (15-5) were in control in most of game one en route to a 9-4 victory. In game two, the Celts overcame a three-run lead in the top of the sixth only to end on the losing side of a 7-5 defeat.

The Celts (12-8) returned to Houston with a four-game split of their Abilene trip, having swept a doubleheader at McMurry the previous day.

UST's softball team will have a week and a half to prepare for its next series. The Celts return to action Saturday, March 26, for the first two games of a three-game series at Austin College. The first pitch in game one is scheduled for noon.

GAME ONE: Hardin-Simmons 9, Celts 4

The Celts jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of game one before Hardin-Simmons scored seven unanswered runs and took control of the contest. 

Addison Lehew's RBI single that scored Jaelyn Simmons opened the scoring for the Celts. Simmons also scored again on Lindsey Gonzalez' RBI single as part of a two-run UST fourth.

Simmons went 3-for-4 at the plate for the Celts, while Gonzalez went 2-for-4.

GAME TWO: Hardin-Simmons 7, Celts 5

The Cowgirls scored three runs in the bottom of the first and kept their three-run lead until UST rallied in the top of the sixth.

Kayleigh Deakle put the Celts on the scoreboard with an RBI single that scored Simmons. After HSU relief pitcher Kylie Ruiz struck out the next two batters, UST's Mallarie Munson hit a three-run homerun to put the Celts ahead 4-3.

However, UST's lead would not last as the Cowgirls scored four runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth. The Celts responded with one run in the top of the seventh when Gonzalez doubled home teammate Ariana Brown.