SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College softball team fell in a big hole early and was unable to climb out, dropping a 12-3 game against Schreiner University in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference opener for both teams. The 'Roos are now 3-12 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Schreiner jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning, with three of those runs coming in unearned, and Austin College was unable to make a dent in the lead until the fourth inning. The Mountaineers added one run in the second and two in the fourth before Mari Prazak belted a three-run homer to get Austin College on the board and make it 9-3 heading into the fifth inning. However, Schreiner managed to push three more runs across in the top of the fifth and the 'Roos couldn't answer, ending the game 12-3 after five.

Reina Serrano took the loss for Austin College after surrendering 12 runs, only five of which were earned, in 5.0 innings of work as the 'Roos committed six errors on the day. Prazak finished 1-for-2 with a homer and three RBI and Caitlin Nagy and Avery Atencio each collected a hit for Austin College, as the 'Roos were held to three hits in the game as a team. Taci Tatum and Courtney Bigley each had two hits and three RBI to lead Schreiner, while Hannah Ortiz picked up the win in the circle for the Mountaineers.

Austin College and Schreiner will wrap up their weekend series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at noon at Old Settlers Park.