By Brian Roe, Sports Writer

The Wildcat softball team teased the Lone Star Confer-ence South Division win column by opening division play with a victory over No. 11 Tarleton State on Friday, before dropping the remaining three games at Wells Field on Friday night and Saturday.

In the opening game, junior infielder Katie Bryan hit a pair of home runs and knocked in five of ACU’s seven runs, leading the Wildcats to a 7-3 victory. Bryan also became ACU’s all-time leading home run hitter this weekend by hitting three in the series.

Sophomore pitcher Hea-ther Cochran picked up her fourth win of the season, allowing only three earned runs in seven innings, while striking out two.

Tarleton State flipped the results on the Wildcats in game two Friday night. ACU lost 8-3 after junior pitcher Lacey Beaston allowed 10 hits and five earned runs in four innings.

Freshman pitcher Allison Crouse came on in relief and pitched a solid three innings, allowing two runs and striking out one. Crouse, who was making her first appearance since injuring her finger in February, also led the Wild-cats with three hits in the game.

“I think we need focus at the plate and just take every at-bat more seriously,” Crouse said. “Conference play comes down to who wants it more.”

Crouse again stood out on Saturday by going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI from the batter’s box and striking out three from the pitcher’s mound in four-plus innings in the game one 11-8 loss.

In the series finale Crouse kept ACU in a wild, extra-innings game by throwing all 11 innings and again batting 2-for-4 from the plate. The freshman gave up five earned runs and struck out three in her 11 innings, but the Wildcats again fell short losing 7-5.

Bryan again led the offensive attack for the Wildcats getting two hits and bombing the third home run of the weekend.

The Wildcats now take their 10-20 overall record (1-3 in LSC South) to Kingsville to battle in a four-game series against Texas A&M-Kingsville Friday at 5 p.m.