'Roos Earn Season Opening Sweep

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College softball team got the season off to a strong start on Saturday afternoon, sweeping visiting Hendrix College by scores of 9-4 and 15-7 in their doubleheader at Sherman High School.

The 'Roos fell behind 1-0 in the first game of the day after an error allowed Hendrix to push a run across in the top of the second, but Austin College exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the third to take a commanding lead at 7-1. Carrie Johnson singled home a run to get things started, and Chyrsi Hemby and Kaitlyn Barrett had consecutive 2-run doubles to put Austin College on top 5-1. Hannah King doubled home another run, and Alexus Johnson wrapped up the inning with an RBI single.

After Carrie Johnson brought home another run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, the Warriors got three runs back in the top of the sixth following a pair of Austin College errors. However, the 'Roos would put one more run across in the bottom half of the inning, with Elizabeth Preston scoring on an error to make it a 9-4 final. Alexus Johnson picked up the win in the circle, going the distance and allowing four unearned runs on five hits. Preston was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and a pair of steals to pace the 'Roos at the dish, while Ashlynn Fowler went 3-for-4 to lead Hendrix.

In game two, Hendrix jumped on top 4-0 after the top of the first, with Austin College getting one run back in the bottom half of the inning on a Carrie Johnson RBI. Two errors in the second enabled the Warriors to go ahead 5-1, but Lyndsey Busch tripled home a run and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Hailie Swiatkowski in the bottom of the second to cut it to 5-3. The 'Roos got five runs across in the third to take an 8-5 lead, with King, Preston, and Tori Fowler each driving in a run in the frame.

Barrett and Alexus Johnson each notched an RBI in the fourth to push it to a 10-5 game, and after Hendrix scored in the fifth, Carrie Johnson knocked home a run to make it 11-6 heading into the sixth. The Warriors managed to cut it to 11-7 in the top of the sixth, but the 'Roos were able to push four runs across in the bottom half of the inning, capped by an RBI double from Hemby to end the game via the run rule. 

Preston went 4-for-4 with a double, a triple, two runs, and two stolen bases to lead Austin College offensively, and Carrie Johnson finished 3-for-5 with four RBI. Swiatkowski earned the win for Austin College, while Betty Wolfe absorbed the loss for Hendrix.