GEORGETOWN, Texas – The Pirates used two late game, come from behind rallies to defeat Concordia University in their opening day of action. SU won game one 5-4 and game two 4-3 by scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh and bottom of the sixth respectively and start the season 2-0.

Game 1: SU 5, CTX 4

The Tornados got on the board first in the top of the first on a pair of walks and an error to load the bases. Starting pitcher sophomore Kaitlyn Pavlicek walked in the first run that was followed by a single by Fuller to bring in another. With the bases still loaded Pavlicek got the next batter to fly out to right field and then struck out the final hitter to end the top of the first.

At the bottom of the third, first-year Taylor Blair poked a one-out double down the left field line to get things rolling and sophomore Amanda Ambrose’s infield chopper was misplayed to allow Ambrose to advance to second and Blair to score to put the Pirates on the board. Ambrose moved to third on a past ball and Quincy Meeker brought her home with a swinging bunt single to tie the game at 2.

Pavlicek got things rolling at the plate in the bottom of four with a lead off walk and Kara Solomon’s sacrifice bunt moved pinch runner first-year Abby Schumacher to second. Schumacher advanced to third on a passed ball with two outs, but Blair popped out to third base in foul territory to end the Pirates bid to snag the lead.

Concordia responded in the top of the fourth and pushed two across the plate on a single by Ferrell to regain the lead, 4-2.

The Tornados loaded the bases in the top of the sixth but the Pirates were able to get out of the jam unscathed on a 1-2-3 double play.

First-year Haley Hughes started things in the bottom of the sixth with one out with a single to short but was thrown out at second when short dropped Pavlicek’s pop fly allowing her to reach first safely. Pavlicek took second and third on a wild pitch that was unable to be located by the catcher and was brought home on a single up the middle by senior Katelyn Gola and SU would end the inning down one, 4-3.

Sophomore Lyndsy Maus came in to close out the game and found herself in a first and third situation with two outs. She struck out Concordia’s Staton on three straight pitches to close out the inning.

With a half an inning to go and needing to push at least one across the plate Blair stepped in and started things off on the right foot with a slap that cleared the pitcher and short was unable to make a play. Ambrose legged out her perfectly executed bunt to put runners at first and second for lead off sophomore Blair Wallace. Wallace drilled a shot with two strikes to right center that brought in Blair and Ambrose all the way around from first to steal the win 5-4.

Game 2: SU 4, CTX 3

Game two started off in the Pirates’ favor with Blair getting on with a fielder’s choice back to the pitcher and scored when Gola singled up the middle. Gola stole second and then scored on Pavlicek’s single down the left field line to put SU up 2-0 in the opening frame.

Concordia loaded the bases in the top of the second and were able to score two on a single up the middle to tie it back up 2-2. After a pitching change brought Maus back to the mound, she go SU out of the jam with just one more run coming across the plate give CTX the 3-2 lead.

Neither team was able to score again until Southwestern posted two in the bottom of the sixth. Hughes reached by beating out an infield grounder and Pavlicek did the same on a swinging bunt to put runners at first and second with one out. After a pitching change Solomon’s pop up in the infield dropped which allowed the runners to advance but was ruled an infield fly for the second out of the inning. With two down sophomore Taylor Turpin stepped in the box and hit a perfectly placed slap blooper into shallow right field to bring in sophomore Quincy Meeker who pinch ran for Hughes and Pavlicek to take a late 4-3 lead.

The Pirates continue their opening weekend with a road game at Texas Lutheran on Sunday.