GEORGETOWN, Texas - On a frigid Saturday afternoon the Southwestern softball kicked off the 2017 season but late game rallies by the Crusaders led to a pair of Pirate losses. 

The bats were as cool as the temperatures early until UMHB lit a fire with a three-run homerun in the fourth inning. Southwestern took the lead in the sixth with four runs, but UMHB rallied for five in the seventh to win game one 8-6. 

Southwestern led 8-4 in game two before UMHB posted three in the fourth and seven in the sixth to mount a lead SU could not overcome. 

First-year Sydney Scott led SU on the day, going 7-8 at the plate with one RBI and one double. Katie Bricarell went 3-5 on the day and Celeste Silvas was 3-7. Berkeley Bacon, Kaitlynn Copher and Taylor Curtis each had three RBIs to lead the team. 

Southwestern begins 0-2 but quickly returns to action to host Hardin-Simmons for a doubleheader on Tuesday beginning at 1 p.m.