Austin College freshman pitcher Victoria Herrera tossed back-to-back complete game shutouts and broke the 'Roo single season strikeout record to lead the 'Roos to a doubleheader sweep of Centenary College on Sunday afternoon at Old Settlers Park. The 'Roos are now 11-16 overall and 4-12 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play with the wins.
The 'Roos jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one in the first game of the twin bill, getting an RBI single from Brian Hernandez and a two run single by Emily Low. That would be all of the run support Herrera would need, but Austin College added three runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to end the game via the run-rule with a final score of 9-0.
Low added another RBI and Lacy Price notched a two run double in the fifth, and Hernandez ended the game with a bases clearing double in the bottom of the sixth. Hernandez finished 2-for-4 with four RBI and Low went 2-for-3 with three RBI, while Herrera struck out nine and allowed just four hits in 6.0 innings of work. Herrera came into the day tied for the single season record with 56 strikeouts and set the new mark in the top of the second, when she struck out the side.
In game two, the 'Roos and Ladies took a scoreless pitcher's duel into the fifth, when Low doubled home a pair of runs to put Austin College on top 2-0. The 'Roos would add three more runs in the sixth, with Taylor Steelman singling home a run and Sophia Hernandez belting a two run double to push the lead to 5-0. Centenary put runners on second and third in the top of the seventh, but Herrera induced a soft lineout back to the mound to end the game and preserve her second shutout of the day.
Herrera struck out eight and allowed five hits in 7.0 innings to get the win, her sixth of the season. Sophia Hernandez went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Steelman finished 2-for-4 to pace the offense.
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.