Sherman, Texas - The Centenary softball team dropped the third and final game of its Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference weekend series to the Austin College 'Roos, 12-11, on Sunday afternoon at Old Settlers Park.
The Ladies (4-10, 0-6 SCAC) were swept in the series after dropping a pair of heartbreaking games, both in nine innings, on Saturday in a doubleheader by scores of 4-3 and 7-6. The Ladies have now lost seven games in a row, with five by two runs or less and all three this weekend by a run displaying the Ladies' fight and perseverance despite the losing streak.
Centenary jumped out early with four runs in its first at-bat but the 'Roos responded immediately with a pair in the bottom of the first and three in the second to take a 5-4 lead. Austin College then added a single run in the third and four more in the fourth to extend its lead to 10-4.
The Ladies began their rally in the fifth, scoring five runs in the top of the fifth to cut their deficit to 10-9. After a scoreless sixth inning for both teams, Centenary scored two in the top of the seventh to take an 11-10 lead. The 'Roos then scored a pair in the bottom half of the seventh to record the walk-off win and clinch the series sweep.
Senior C Erin Lewis (Leesville, La.) reached on a fielder's choice to drive in the first run of the game and senior 2B Jaymee Wilkinson (Brazoria, Texas) reached on an error as the second run of the game scored followed by a two- RBI double by sophomore Isabelle Dominguez (Newark, Calif.) to cap the scoring and make it 4-0. Lauren Orozco hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first to cut the lead in half then struck again in the second, this time with a three-run shot to make it a 5-4 game.
Dominguez delivered again in the fifth with a two-RBI single and the Ladies scored three unearned runs in the frame to get to within 10-9 after falling down 10-4. Centenary then came through in the clutch in the seventh as Lewis tied the game with an RBI single with two outs and freshman Alyssa Akers (Maurice, La.) had a go-ahead RBI single to give the Ladies the lead for the first time since the first inning.
SS Lizzy Preston singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh for the 'Roos and Orozco reached on an error to put runners at second and third with no outs. Hallie Swiatowski tied the game with a sacrifice fly and Chrysi Hemby followed with a game-winning sacrifice fly.
The Ladies finished with 12 hits but committed five errors and left 10 on base. The 'Roos had 15 hits and were extremely sloppy, making eight errors and left eight on base. Centenary had a pair of extra-base hits, both doubles, and AC had four. Senior P Ashley Hunter (Benton, La.) started for the Ladies and lasted just 1.2 innings and she allowed five runs, all earned, and six hits with no walks and no strikeouts and allowed a pair of home runs. She threw 28 pitches, 20 strikes, and faced 11 batters.
Freshman P Anna Scarbock (Alexandria, La.) relieved Hunter and suffered the loss to fall to 1-7 as she went the final five innings and allowed seven runs, four earned, on nine hits with a walk and four strikeouts. She allowed one home run, faced 29 batters, and threw 77 pitches, 49 for strikes.
Swiatowski started for the 'Roos and went the first 4.2 innings and allowed nine runs, all unearned, and eight hits with no walks and one K. She faced 28 batters, threw 86 pitches, 68 for strikes, and hit a pair of batters. Karsen Lampkin came on for Swiatowski in relief and faced four batters and allowed two hits and a walk in 0.1 innings of work. She threw 12 pitches, five for strikes. Alice Maisonet pitched the final two innings and picked up the win to improve to 1-1 on the season. She allowed two unearned runs and two hits with a walk and no strikeouts. She threw 34 pitches, 16 for strikes, and faced 10 batters.
Sophomore OF Mackenzie Cox (Alexandria, La.) was 1-5 with three runs scored and three stolen bases, junior Kaylea Patridge (Las Vegas, Nev.) was 2-3 with an RBI, two runs scored, a walk, and a stolen base. Dominguez finished 2-4 with four RBI and a run scored. Akers went 2-2 with an RBI, a run scored, and a walk and Lewis finished 1-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Freshman 3B Viviana Rivero (Redondo Beach, Calif.) finished 1-5 with an RBI, and Wilkinson went 0-2 but scored a run and had one RBI. Preston went 5-5 with an RBI and four runs scored, Orozco finished 3-4 with five RBI, four runs scored, and a walk, and Carrie Johnson went 3-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Centenary returns home and takes a break from conference play next weekend as the Ladies will face The Mississippi University for Women (The W) Owls (9-9) in a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday, March 19 at 1 and 3 p.m.
See the Ladies' complete season schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/sball/2021-22/schedule
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