Hernandez Throws Perfect Game as 'Roos Sweep Rust

Sophia Hernandez threw the first perfect game in Austin College softball history, striking out 14 of the 15 batters she faced to help the 'Roos sweep Rust College by scores of 15-0 and 16-0 on Wednesday afternoon. The 'Roos are now 7-8 overall this season with the pair of victories.

The 'Roos wasted little time getting on the board, with Sophia Hernandez, Briana Hernandez, Lacy Price, and Lindsey Pollard each driving in a run in the first to make it 4-0. The lead grew to 8-0 after the second as Mallory Rossmann drove in two more runs, and Emily Low and Price each added an RBI in the inning.

Five more runs came home in the third to make it 13-0 with Rossmann, Pollard, Ali Carnes, Mary Whitworth, and Riina Punto each bringing home a run, and Carnes and Lilly Chavez each brought home another run in the fourth to make it 15-0 as the game ended via the run-rule after the top of the fifth.

Hernandez struck out the first 12 batters she faced on her way to a program record 14 on the day, with the only other out coming via a soft grounder to first base. Hernandez needed only 61 pitches to get the perfect game. Rossmann went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI and Price, Pollard, and Carnes each had two RBI. Briana Hernandez went 4-for-4 in the game.

In game two, the 'Roos scored 13 of their 16 runs in the third and fourth innings on their way to getting another run-rule victory. Three runs came home in the bottom of the first, with Low and Carnes each driving in a run while the 'Roos took advantage of two Rust errors. After no runs came home in the second, the 'Roos plated six runs on eight hits in the third to make it 9-0 after three.

Pollard, Carnes, Punto, and Chavez each had one RBI in the inning and Rossmann drove in two more on a double to left. The 'Roos plated seven more runs in the fourth, taking advantage of five Rust errors in the inning and getting two more RBI from Rossmann. Punto, Chavez, Pollard, Low, and Rachel Ramos each drove in a run in the inning.

Victoria Herrera had the second highest single game strikeout total in program history with 13 in the game, as she allowed just three hits in picking up the complete game shutout victory. Herrera also issued no walks in the game. Rossmann finished 2-for-4 with four RBI and five players each had two RBI in the win.

Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

About Austin College

Austin College is a leading national independent residential liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope's influential book Colleges that Change Lives.