The ACU softball team competed in its first tournament of the season last weekend in San Antonio and came away with a 3-1 record.

The Wildcats started off the season on a rough patch, losing 6-3 to East Central in the season opener, but rebounded quickly en route to winning the next three games by a combined score of 12-3.

“It was definitely a first game for us,” assistant coach Ashley Reeves said. “We came out nervous, especially offensively. We can swing it a whole lot better than that game showed. After that one, we got all the preseason jitters out and came to play the rest of the tournament.”

Back-to-back home runs in the third inning by the Tigers’ Emily Kennemer and Ali Manship played a big part in the game and the four-run third inning.

“We started out strong and came out quick, but those home runs took a toll on our team,” Reeves said.

ACU starter Peyton Mosley, sophomore, retired the first six batters of the game before allowing a walk to start the third inning. Shelby Simmons then hit a RBI double followed by the Kennemer and Manship home runs.

The Wildcat defense then contained the Tiger offense until the seventh when they scored when it scored two more runs.

Sophomore Lyndi Smith hit a solo home run in the fifth and Megan Brigance scored the game’s first two runs on a double in the first inning.

In Thursday’s nightcap, late inning home runs by Courtney Flanary and Sara Vaughn gave the Wildcats some insurance in their 6-2 win over St. Edwards.

Flanary’s two-run home run in the fifth inning was a pinch-hit effort that extended the Wildcats’ 5-1 lead. Vaughn’s home run was a solo shot in the sixth.

ACU’s first three runs were scored thanks to a fielding error made by St. Edwards Paige Sandahl. With the bases loaded and two outs, Sandahl misplayed a Brianna Fowlkes comebacker.

In her ACU debut, pitcher Caitlin Crain, transfer, allowed only one run over six innings of work. Shelby Hall relieved Crain in the ninth.

“Caitlin came in and did a great job in her debut,” Reeves said. “We couldn’t have asked for a better performance.”

In Friday’s first game, Texas A&M-International was blanked by pitchers Peyton Mosley and Hall, who combined to throw a five-hit shutout, and led the way to a 4-0 win.

Mosley started the game and Hall relieved her in the second inning. Hall only allowed three base runners over the final six innings.

“Shelby came in and did a great job getting ground balls and letting our defense do a lot of the work,” Reeves said.

“We were clicking on all cylinders,” Hall said. “All of our pitchers performed really well.”

In the second game Friday, ACU trumped Rollins College 2-1 behind the arm of Crain once again.

The Odessa College transfer threw seven innings and allowed seven hits in the effort. Rollins scored its only run in the fourth inning.

The Wildcats scored their pair of runs in the third.  Senior Sarah Martinez blasted a home run to lead off the inning, and Kimberely Briggs picked up an RBI on a single.

ACU was slated to play two games Saturday, but the games were canceled due to rain.

The Wildcats will be back in action at 2 p.m. Friday as they host the Whitten Inn Classic.