Softball Completes Weekend Sweep of La Roche

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College softball team wrapped up its six-game homestand with a doubleheader sweep over La Roche University, in turn completing the series sweep against the Redhawks, winning by scores of 4-3 and 19-0. The 'Roos are now 10-8 on the year, making this the first time since 2016 the program has hit double-digits in victories.

La Roche took an early lead in game on, going ahead 1-0 on a sacrifice fly in the top of the first, but two runs came around on a hit by Hailie Swiatkowski in the third to put the 'Roos ahead 2-1. The lead grew to 3-1 in the fourth, as Tessa Contreras singled home Kalee Rush, but the Redhawks came back with a pair of runs in the fifth to even things up at 3-3. The game wouldn't stay tied for long, however, as Swiatkowski doubled home Alissandra Tobar in the bottom half of that same inning to make it a 4-3 game, and that's how things would finish.

Carrie Johnson picked up the win in relief, coming on to toss 2.2 innings of shutout ball, allowing two hits and striking out one batter. Swiatkowski finished 2-for-3 with three RBI to lead Austin College at the plate, while Contreras and Faith Butler each had a pair of hits. Maura Wade took the loss in relief for La Roche, giving up a run on three hits in 2.2 innings in the circle. Wade was also 3-for-4 at the plate in the game.

Game two saw Austin College jump out to a huge early lead and never look back, plating 10 runs in the top of the first and six more in the second. Carrie Johnson got things started with an RBI double and Hannah King followed with a two-run single, and Tori Fowler and Chyrsi Hemby each added run-scoring doubles before Johnson came back up and drove in the final run of the first inning. Alexus Johnson got the scoring going in the second with an RBI double, and Hemby belted a three-run double later in the inning. Carrie Johnson added a run-scoring double in the same inning, and later came around to score on an RBI single by Lyndsey Busch.

The 'Roos added three more runs in the third to make it 19-0, and that's how things would end via the run-rule after five innings. Hemby hit another RBI double in the third, this time bringing two runs home, and Carrie Johnson drove in one more run as well. Hemby finished the game 3-for-4 with six RBI, and Johnson was 4-for-4 with four RBI. Alexus Johnson went the distance to earn the win, throwing a 5.0 inning shoutout and allowing just one hit while striking out four and walking none. Johnson faced the mininum number of batters, as the lone base runner was picked off of first base by Tobar after getting the only base hit of the game for La Roche.