SHERMAN, TEXAS — Southwestern University's Kinly McCaffrey pitched her second complete game of the series and provided all the run support she would need in softball's 12-1 victory over Austin College.
McCaffrey struck out four Kangaroos, bringing her three-game series total to 13. The right-handed junior was solid in the pitcher's circle, surrendering just four hits with two walks and one run in seven innings of work. She was also a presence at the plate, hitting 2-for-5 from the leadoff spot with five RBIs and a run scored.
Southwestern put the first run on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning, getting a leadoff single to center field from Alex Fletes. Fletes stole second, putting herself in a position to score on McCaffrey's opposite-field RBI-double. Austin College answered in the bottom of the inning, getting a two-out, RBI-single to center field to tie the game.
After two scoreless innings, Southwestern overpowered Austin College in the sixth. Katelyn Francis and Kathryn Dull opened the inning with back-to-back home runs to end Kangaroo's starting pitcher Hannah Richendollar's afternoon. Maddie Mefford welcomed relief pitcher Karsen Lampkin with a double to right-center. She would later score on a grounder by Kealie House and Fletes added the fourth run of the inning with an RBI-single for the 5-1 lead.
The Pirates flexed their offensive muscle again in the seventh, scoring seven runs on five hits. Francis was hit by a pitch to start the inning but was later thrown out on Dull's fielder's choice. After Madyson Runge struck out for the second out of the inning, Southwestern went on a tear.
House hit an RBI-single to center, scoring Dull. Jessey Nunez hit an infield single to load the bases, and Fletes was hit by a pitch to score another run. After another pitching change for Austin College, bringing in A. Maisonet, Tori Montemayor drew a walk to drive in another run, and McCaffrey hit a grand slam for the 12-1 lead. McCaffrey then retired the side in order to end the game, earning her third win of the season.
With the win, Southwestern ends the regular season with a 14-18 record, clinching a winning conference record at 11-10, good for fifth in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) standings. The SCAC Championships will begin on Friday, April 30, in Kerrville, Texas.