GEORGETOWN, Texas - With winds gusting and temperatures
plummeting the Pirate softball team dropped their first SCAC
conference game to Austin College but were able to tie game two up
just in time to force the game into day two.
Austin College struck first scoring one run in the second inning
and then posting three more in the third on a three-run home run
over the centerfield fence by Faith as the 'Roos took a 4-0
lead through two and a half innings.
The Pirates struck back, scoring three runs of their own on four
hits with one out to pull within one, 4-3, at the bottom of the
third.
In the top of the fifth the 'Roos looked poised to score
more with runners on second and third with no outs. Relief pitcher
Lyndsy Maus was able to escape the jam with a infield blooper to
Aly Pulver at second base that held the runners and then got the
runner at home on a squeeze bunt that dropped just in front of the
plate allowing Abby Schumacher to make the play. Poor base running
by AC led to the third out and kept the Pirates within one run.
Southwestern took the momentum into their half of the inning to
bring the game even at 4. Katelyn Gola reached on a walk with one
out, stole second base and then advanced to third on Haley
Hughes' ground out. She scored when Kaitlyn Pavlicek singled
to right center with two outs.
The Pirates got two on with two outs in the bottom of the
seventh, but Maus' shot to right field was right at
AC's fielder and made for the easy out to force extra
innings.
Austin College took the win with a five run top of the ninth.
They scored all five runs with two outs as SU just couldn't
seem to get that last crucial out. The Pirates were sat down in
four batters in the bottom of the inning to fall 9-4 in the first
game.
In game two the 'Roos started right where they left off
with four runs in the opening frame. Southwestern scored two runs
on a single by Hughes up the middle in the third to pull within
two, 4-2.
With the 'Roos adding another run in the fifth SU came
back within two in the bottom of the inning on a homerun over the
left field fence by Wallace that brought in Pulver, putting the
score at 6-4 through five.
With daylight running out the Pirates dug in their heels to tie
the game up in the bottom of the sixth, 6-6, and as the sun set in
the West the game was called and will be resumed on Sunday before
the originally scheduled double header begins.