'Roos Edged Twice by Southwestern

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College softball team fell by a single run in each of its two games against Southwestern University on Saturday, dropping game one 2-1 before falling 5-4 in game two of the doubleheader. The 'Roos are now 2-22 overall on the year.

In game one, the Pirates took advantage of a pair of first inning errors to plate a run and go on top 1-0, but the game was a pitchers' duel throughout with neither team managing to get a hit until the fourth inning. It was in the bottom of the fourth when Elizabeth Preston singled to center, and a pair of errors on the play allowed her to round the bases and score to square things up at one run apiece heading into the fifth. 

The Pirates would regain the lead in the top of the fifth, when Kayla White hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home a run and make it a 2-1 game, and that's how things would end, as Austin College was unable to get the run back over the final three innings. Karsen Lampkin went the distance in the circle for Austin College, giving up two runs - one earned - on just four hits. Preston led Austin College at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and a stolen base.

Southwestern jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in game two, with Maddie Mefford and Sam Martinez each driving in a run in the opening frame, and another run would come across in the third to make it a 3-0 lead for the visitors. An error in the sixth led to two runs and made it a 5-0 game, and that's where things would stand heading into the bottom of the fourth.

Austin College started to rally in its final at-bat, with Andrea Saucedo knocking in a run to get the 'Roos on the board, and Lindsay Busch followed with an RBI of her own to make it 5-2. An error brought two more runs around for Austin College to make it 5-4, but the 'Roos came up just short, stranding the tying run on third base to end the game.

Ashley Elliott tossed a complete game for Austin College in the loss, giving up five runs - four earned - on seven hits while also going 1-for-3 with a double at the dish. Preston and Sarah Ramirez each went 2-for-3 to lead the 'Roos offensively.

Austin College and Southwestern wrap up their weekend series on Sunday with a single game scheduled for noon at Old Settlers Park.