SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College softball team dropped both halves of its Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference-opening doubleheader against Southwestern on Friday, falling 6-3 in game one and 6-5 in game two. The 'Roos are now 3-13 overall and 0-2 in conference play this season.

In game one, the Pirates jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first, with Kaitlynn Copher delivering a two run single in the inning. Austin College answered back with a run in the second, as Kat Wright singled home Cassidy McDaris, but Southwestern answered in the third with a run to make it a 4-1 game.

Ashley Mayorga doubled home a run in the bottom of the third to cut the margin to 4-2, but the Pirates added runs in the fifth and sixth to push it to a 6-2 game. Austin College would add one more run in the seventh, but that's as close as things would get. Wright took the loss, surrendering six runs – four earned – on nine hits in a complete game effort. The 'Roos were limited to four hits offensively.

Two scoreless innings opened up the second game of the twin bill, with the Pirates finally getting on the board in the top of the third with three unearned runs. The lead grew to 4-0 in the fifth, but a two run homer by Emily Low in the bottom half of the inning cut it to a 4-2 game. Southwestern would add two runs in the top of the seventh to make it 6-2, however.

Beth Massey belted a two run homer of her own in the bottom of the seventh, and McDaris doubled home Mayorga to cut it to a 6-5 game. That's as close as things would get, however, as the 'Roos would strand the tying run.

Tori Herrera absorbed the loss, surrendering six runs – only two earned – while striking out 11 batters in a complete game performance. McDaris went 2-for-3, and Low finished 1-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored.

The 'Roos and Pirates wrap up their weekend series tomorrow with first pitch in game one of the doubleheader scheduled for 12:00 p.m.