Sherman, Texas - The Centenary softball team was swept by the Austin College 'Roos in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader, 4-3 and 7-6, both in nine innings on Saturday afternoon at Old Settlers Park.
The Ladies (4-9, 0-5 SCAC) lost for the sixth time in a row after falling to Arlington Baptist in the second game of a DH on March 1 and then being swept in a three-game conference series last weekend at home by Trinity. The 'Roos improved to 5-10 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
Game 1 Recap: Austin College 4 Centenary 3 (9 innings):
The Ladies jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three innings but the 'Roos answered with three runs, one in the fourth and a pair in the fifth, to tie the game at 3-3. The game then remained tied for the next three innings until Austin College scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on a one-out single by RF Lauren Orozco.
Freshman 3B Viviana Rivero (Redondo Beach, Calif.) doubled in sophomore RF Mackenzie Cox (Alexandria, La.) with the first run of the game and a groundout by senior C Erin Lewis (Leesville, La.) plated junior LF Kaylea Patridge (Las Vegas, Nev.) for a 2-0 Centenary lead after its first at-bat. The Ladies added a single run in the third on an RBI single by Rivero to score Cox.
Freshman P Anna Scarbock (Alexandria, La.) started for the Ladies in the circle and went 4.1 innings and allowed two runs, one earned, and three hits with two walks and a strikeout. Senior P Ashley Hunter (Benton, La.) relieved her and suffered the loss as she went the final four innings and allowed just two runs, one earned, and five hits with a walk and a strikeout. Scarbock threw 68 pitches, 40 for strikes, and faced 20 batters. Hunter faced 18 batters and threw 67 pitches, 44 for strikes.
Hallie Swiatowski (2-4) went the distance for the 'Roos and she allowed three runs, all earned, and nine hits with one walk and one strikeout. She threw 103 pitches, 65 for strikes, and faced 36 batters, hitting one.
The 'Roos got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with an unearned run to make it a 3-1 game and a solo home run by Orozco and another unearned run tied the game in the fifth. Cox singled to lead off the seventh and stole second but was thrown out at home keeping the game tied. The 'Roos opened their half of the seventh with consecutive singles but 1B Joli Kirkpatrick lined into a double play and DP Calleigh King flew out to end the inning.
Each team was retired in order in the eighth and the Ladies went down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth. LF Alice Maisonet singled to lead off the bottom half of the ninth and after a foul out, Maisonet stole second base. Orozco then singled Maisonet in with the winning run.
Cox, Rivero, and Orozco each collected three hits and Austin College SS Lizzy Preston had two hits. Patridge finished 1-3 with a run scored and a walk, and Lewis was 1-3 with an RBI. Freshman Alyssa Akers (Maurice, La.) pinch-hit in the sixth and delivered a single. Cox stole two bases to give her an impressive 14 for the season. The 'Roos left eight on base while the Ladies left nine. Centenary committed three errors and Austin College did not commit any.
Cox recorded her sixth multi-hit game this season, second three-hit performance, and fifth game with multiple stolen bases. Rivero had a career-high three hits, posted her seventh multi-hit game of the season, and had her third game with two or more RBI.
Game 2 Recap: Austin College 7 Centenary 6 (9 innings):
The game was tied 1-1 after an inning and then the 'Roos scored a pair in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Centenary answered with two of its own in the fifth to tie the game and it remained that way until the ninth.
The Ladies capitalized on three errors by the 'Roos in the top of the ninth to score three runs on four hits to take a 7-3 lead and just needing three outs for the win. Cox singled
Freshman SS ninth Brooke Sandefur (Baton Rouge, La.) reached on an error to start the ninth and went to second on a wild pitch. Cox then singled and moved to second on an error by 'Roos center fielder Carrie Johnson, allowing Sandefur to score for a 4-3 Centenary lead. Patridge then ripped a double down the right-field line to advance Cox to third. Rivero then came through with an RBI single to center and another error by Johnson allowed Cox to score to make it 6-3 and Patridge to move to third. Lewis then singled and Rivero moved to second and a groundout by junior CF Mallory Stout (Trinity, Texas) advanced Lewis and Rivero into scoring position. 'Roos reliever Calleigh King (1-2) got senior 2B Jaymee Wilkinson (Brazoria, Texas) to pop out and retired freshman Kaitlyn Dickey (Church Point, La.) on a groundout to escape the jam.
Freshman P Katelyn Moss (Olive Branch, Miss.) started for the Ladies and pitched 8.1 innings and allowed six runs, five earned, and 12 hits with four walks and five K's. Moss threw 120 pitches, 76 strikes, and faced 40 batters. SS Lizzy Preston grounded out to start the bottom of the ninth and Orozco doubled. 3B Chrysi Hemby walked and Orozco stole third. Johnson came through with an RBI single to score Orozco and Scarbock entered the game to replace Moss.
1B Hailie Swiatkowski then singled to score Hemby and move Johnson to third. Lyndesy Busch was then retired on a groundout to first to score Johnson and tie the game at 6-6 as Swiatkowski moved to second. King then doubled to right center to bring home Swiatkowski with the winning run. King got the win on relief along with driving in the winning run. She went the final 4.2 innings and allowed three runs, all earned, with five hits along with one walk and one K. She threw 52 pitches, 36 for strikes, and faced 21 batters. Aubri Dayle Smith started for Austin and went the first 4.1 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, and seven hits with no walks and one strikeout. She threw 60 pitches (43 strikes) and faced 22 batters. Moss pitched a season-high 8.1 innings for the Ladies and recorded a season-best five K's.
Patridge led the way on offense for the Ladies in game two with a single-game, career-best four hits. She finished 4-5 with three runs scored and had her fifth multi-hit game of the season. Rivero went 3-4 with three RBI including a two-run home run and a run scored. Lewis finished 2-5 and Cox, Stout, and Wilkinson each had one hit and Wilkinson stole a base.
Preston and Swiatkowski combined to go 6-11 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Johnson and Orozco were 4-9 with two RBI, two runs scored, and a walk. Stout put the Ladies ahead 1-0 in the top of the first with an RBI single. Rivero homered to tie the game in the fifth, her first-career blast, and the Ladies finished with three extra-base hits. Centenary collected 12 hits, its seventh game with double-digit hits.The series concludes on Sunday with a single game at Noon.
Live stats are available for all three games at the link below. There will not be live video for any of the games.
Stats: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/sball/2021-22/boxscores/20220312_y24m.xml
See the Ladies' complete season schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/sball/2021-22/schedule
Admission is FREE to all Centenary home athletic contests but be advised of current COVID-19 protocols for fans. Updated COVID-19 information is now available via www.GoCentenary.com.
Live stats and live video stream are available for all Centenary home contests. Please note that all dates and times are subject to change.
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