SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College softball team wrapped up a strong weekend against the University of Dallas on Sunday, winning both halves of its doubleheader by scores of 3-2 and 7-4 to earn a series sweep of the Crusaders. The 'Roos are now 16-16 overall and 5-10 in conference play.
Carrie Johnson got the scoring started in game one for the 'Roos, ripping a two-run single up the middle in the bottom of the first, and Hannah King brought Johnson home with a double to make it a 3-0 game in the next at-bat. Those would be all the runs Austin College scored in the game, but it ended up being just enough as Hailie Swiatkowski limited the Crusaders to just a pair of unearned runs in the top of the third to pull the Crusaders within a run. Swiatkowski held UD scoreless the rest of the way to earn her seventh victory of the season, giving up two unearned runs on six hits in a complete game effort with three strikeouts and four walks issued.
Six different players had one hit each for Austin College, with Johnson going 1-for-3 with two RBI to lead the way. SunnyDale Thies took the loss for Dallas, giving up three runs on six hits in 6.0 innings of action, while Abby Lasley went 3-for-3 with a run for the Crusaders.
In game two, Austin College once again jumped on top early, this time with a two-run opening frame. Chyrsi Hemby got things going with an RBI double, her SCAC-leading 15th two-bagger of the year, and Hannah King brought Hemby home with a base hit to center to make it a 2-0 game. The Crusaders got one run in each of the next three innings to grab a 3-2 lead, but Elizabeth Preston tripled to plate two runs in the bottom of the fourth, and she'd later come home on an error to add to Austin College's lead. Tori Fowler came home on a double steal later in the same inning to put the 'Roos ahead 6-3 after four innings.
Andrea Saucedo knocked in a run in the fifth to put Austin College on top 7-3, and after Bre Barnes drove in a run for Dallas in the top of the sixth, Alexus Johnson shut the door on the Crusaders in the seventh to earn her eighth victory of the year while wrapping up her 14th complete game. Johnson gave up four runs - two earned - on nine hits. Preston and King each had two hits, while Fowler stole four bases, giving her 25 on the year and breaking the Austin College single-season record.