SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College softball team got off to a strong start in the 2015 season, sweeping Southwestern Assemblies of God by scores of 3-1 and 7-1 to open the year with a record of 2-0. Austin College will be looking to add two more wins when they host Rust College on Saturday.
In game one, the 'Roos found themselves in a tough spot in the top of the second when a pair of errors helped SAGU load the bases with no outs, but Victoria Herrera worked her way out of the jam and struck out the last two batters in the inning to keep the Lions off the board. Austin College got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third when Briana Hernandez launched a two run homer to make it 2-0, and the lead grew to 3-0 in the fifth when Lauren Mara scored on an error.
The Lions pushed a run across the plate in the sixth to cut it to a 3-1 game, and SAGU put two runners on with no outs in the top of the seventh before Herrera closed the door to earn the complete game victory. Herrera tossed 6.0 innings with nine strikeouts against zero walks, allowing one run on seven hits.
Briana Hernandez finished the game 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBI, and Mara finished 2-for 3 with two runs scored in the win. Kelsey Coburn went 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead SAGU, while Hannah Lee took the loss.
In the second game, the Lions jumped on top early when an error allowed a run home in the top of the first, but Austin College grabbed the lead in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run double by Briana Hernandez.
The 'Roos would add two more runs in the fifth when Hernandez doubled home Raquel Vara and Felicia Rivera scored Hernandez with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-1. Austin College would put the game away in the sixth, as Kierra Gaither scored on a wild pitch, Briana Hernandez added an RBI single, and Sophia Hernandez capped things off with an RBI triple to make it a 7-1 game.
Sophia Hernandez got the win for Austin College, tossing the complete game while surrendering one run on just three hits and striking out six batters. Briana Hernandez went 3-for-4 with four RBI, and Vara and Sophia Hernandez each went 3-for-4. Hailey Clendennen and Delaney England each had a pair of hits in the win.