ABILENE, Texas â€" The Texas Lutheran softball program opened its season on a high note, splitting a road doubleheader against NCAA Division I-opponent Abilene Christian on Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs dropped the first game 10-7 before rallying to take the second 4-3.
 
Rally was exactly what the Bulldogs did in that second game, not only rallying from a game-one loss, but also rallying from three-runs down in the sixth inning to come away with an impressive win. All four of their runs came in that sixth inning. All four of those runs came off one game-changing swing of the bat from Ashley Jacobsen.
 
Jacobsen (Marion, Texas) changed the game with a grand slam that scored Jaime Ohm, Grace Estes and Jacquelyn Brown. The Bulldog offense was held in check until that inning, but then it exploded for three of the six hits in the game. It all started when Brown (Vidor, Texas) led off with a triple to centerfield. Both Estes and Ohm followed with walks before Jacobsen stepped to the plate and hammered her first homer of the year.
 
Jacobsen finished the day 1-for-3 with those four big RBI and that run scored. Brown was the only Bulldog to have a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3 from the plate with a run scored.
 
After the four-run sixth, Amanda Lochte (Fredericksburg, Texas) earned her first save of her collegiate career. The freshman shut down Abilene Christian in the final two innings, giving up just a single in each of the last two frames to close out the win.
 
Kimberly Leschber (Thordale, Texas) was credited with the win as she threw the game's first five innings for the Bulldogs, giving up three runs on six hits. All three of those runs came in the first two innings where she gave up four of her six hits and all four of her walks. After the nerves of her first-career TLU start wore off, she settled down and gave up just two hits in her final three innings of work.
 
The Bulldogs were right in the thick of things in the opening game of the doubleheader as well, but couldn't quite overcome a strong Abilene Christian offense despite scoring seven runs and nearly rallying back from an seven-run deficit.
 
Much like the second game, the Bulldogs found themselves behind early as Abilene Christian scored eight runs in the first two innings, including a seven-run second.
 
After getting behind though, the TLU offense came to life in a big way with the long ball leading the way. The Bulldogs launched three homeruns in the final five innings, including two in the third. Grace Estes and Taylor Yancey (Magnolia, Texas) each left the yard in the third inning. Estes hit a solo shot, while Yancey smacked a two-run shot.
 
In the fifth inning, with the team down 8-4, Estes hit her second homer of the day, another solo shot. Later on the inning, the Bulldogs would inch closer after scoring a run off an Abilene Christian error.
 
In the sixth, TLU would make it just a one-run game after Jacobsen ripped an RBI single that scored Estes. Unfortunately, that would be the closest the Bulldogs would get as Abilene Christian scored two runs of its own in the bottom of the sixth.
 
The Bulldogs cranked out nine hits in the ballgame, with Estes enjoying a 3-for-3 day with four runs scored, two RBI and one walk. Ohm and Yancey each rapped out a couple of hits, as well.
 
In the circle, Taylor Grissom (Spring, Texas) got the start and gave up eight runs, though just one of those was earned, in one and 2/3 innings of work. The sophomore was making her first start of her TLU career and gave up eight hits.

Freshman Samantha Yenne (Lake Jackson, Texas) came in to relieve Grissom and threw the next three and 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on two hits and pair of walks. She also struck out four in her TLU debut.
 
Lochte wrapped things up for the Bulldogs, throwing the final inning and not allowing a run or a hit, just a single walk.
 
Texas Lutheran is right back in action tomorrow with another doubleheader in Abilene. Tomorrow, Hardin-Simmons is on the schedule. First pitch is slated for noon.