GEORGETOWN, Texas – Southwestern swept Austin College 8-0 and 6-4 in Sunday's doubleheader. The Pirates offense sprang to life and received strong pitching from Lyndsy Maus along with a clutch save appearance by Tamara Belilove.
In the bottom of the third, Taylor Turpin led off with a bunt single. Kaitlyn Pavlicek hit a double to left center with one out to advance Turpin to third. Then Haley Hughes hit a two RBI single past the shortstop to give the 'Bucs the 2-0 lead.
Tessa Galloway walked on four pitches to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Kady Freshour moved her over to second on a bunt single towards first base. Abigail O'Connor hit a single up the middle, scoring Galloway and advanced Freshour to second. Turpin put down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners. Amanda Ambrose reached on an error by the short stop, scoring another Pirate run. Next, Pavlicek hit a 2 RBI triple to deep right center. She later scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Hughes. Karen Ramirez followed with a two out walk and later stole second. Ashleigh Scott hit a double down the left field line to score Ramirez and push the lead to 8-0.
Delaney led off the top of the fifth with a single to left center and tried to stretch it to a double, but was thrown out by Turpin in a close play at second base. Slawson hit a single up the middle with two outs and advanced to third on a single to left center by Trudell. The Pirates ended the threat by getting Dowsey to ground out to third base to end the game early in five innings.
The Pirates were led offensively by Pavlicek, who went 3-3, had two RBI, two runs scored, with a double and a triple. Seven different runners scored for the 'Bucs en route to the victory. Lyndsy Maus pitched four and one third shutout innings to earn the win for Southwestern.
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In game two of the doubleheader, Turpin reached in the bottom of the first on an error by the shortstop. Ambrose followed with an infield single which advanced Turpin to second. Pavlicek walked on four pitches with no outs to load the bases for the Pirates. Hughes reached on an error by the shortstop which allowed Turpin to score. Linsay Biggers came in to pinch run for Pavlicek on second base and Kayla Irvin came in to pinch hit for Ramirez and flew out to right field. On the play, Biggers was caught in a rundown which allowed Ambrose to score from third and give the Pirates the early 2-0 lead.
Freshour walked with one out in the bottom of the second. O'Connor hit a double over the left fielder's head to move Freshour to third. Then Turpin reached on a fielder's choice. O'Connor advanced to third and Freshour scored on an errant throw by Baker on the play to extend the 'Bucs advantage to 3-0.
The Roos broke through in the top of the third. Dowsey reached on an error by Ramirez. Then Baker and Beltran followed with a pair of singles to load the bases. Rossman hit a one out single through the left side to score the first run of the game for Austin College. Maus got Delaney to fly out into a double play to end the rally with a 3-1 score.
Dowsey led off the top of the fifth with a bloop single to the shortstop. Baker reached on a fielder's choice, with Dowsey out at second. A pair of singles gave the Roos bases loaded with one out. A ball got passed the Pirates catcher O'Connor allowing a run to score to cut it to a 3-2 game.
The 'Bucs retaliated in the bottom half of the inning. Ramirez led off with a double to right center. She advanced to third on a single through the left side by Scott. Galloway followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Ramirez for the 4-2 Pirate lead.
Trudell reached on an error by Hughes in the top of the sixth. Dowsey hit a ball deep to left center and Turpin made a spectacular diving catch over her shoulder for the second out. Maus helped herself out by catching the line drive from Baker to end the inning.
O'Connor led off the bottom of the sixth with a single up the middle. She later stole second base with Turpin at the plate, who singled in the at bat. Ambrose hit a RBI single, scoring O'Connor and advanced Turpin to third. Next, Pavlicek hit into double play, but Turpin scored from third as there had been no outs at the time. Southwestern took a 6-2 lead going into the Roos last at-bats.
In the top of the seventh, Beltran led off with a walk. Farquhar singled and Rossman walked to load the bases for Austin College. Pirates starting pitcher, Maus struck Delaney with a pitch which allowed a run to score. Tamara Belilove came into the game to relieve Maus at pitcher. Peiser singled with no outs as a pinch hitter to advance all runners and score another run for the Roos. Belilove proceeded to strike out the next three batters as the Pirates took the 6-4 win.
Ambrose led the Pirates in game two of the doubleheader by going 3-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Maus picked up her second win of the day with Belilove earning the clutch save.
At the end of the day, Southwestern climbed to 13-12 and 3-1 in conference and Austin College fell to 5-17 and 1-3 respectively.
The Pirates next face Hendrix in a doubleheader on March 31st beginning at 1pm at home at Taylor-Sanders Field in Georgetown, Texas.