GEORGETOWN, Texas – Southwestern got out to a slow start, falling 16-4 in game one, but rebounded in game two before the game ended in a 7-7 tie due to darkness.
OLLU made quick work of posting their first run. Stone led off with a walk and moved to second on the sacrifice by Ashley Perez. An RBI double off the left field wall from Elizabeth Rodriguez gave the Saints a 1-0 lead.
Megan Perez's double down the left field line brought home another Saint run in the third. A slow liner to the left with two outs drove in two more runs and put SU down 4-0 in the third. The three runs was just the beginning as OLLU posted 11 runs before the inning was brought to a close.
OLLU added four runs in the fourth but none in the fifth. Southwestern wasn't able to get anything going offensively all game, recording just two base runners before the pitching change in the bottom of the fifth. A two-out, two RBI double by Karen Ramirez broke the scoring drought for SU and Tori Vasquez brought two home on a bloop single, but the comeback was short lived as Southwestern fell 16-4.
Ramirez and Vasquez led at the plate with one hit each but two RBI's each. Nicole Gibbs garnered the loss while Katrisha Arocha earned the win.
OLLU took a one run lead to open game two, but the Pirates were poised to match the effort with bases loaded with one out in the second and Karen Ramirez at the plate. Ramirez drew a walk to bring home the first run and Scott repeated the act with a five pitch walk to bring home run two and put SU up 2-1 through two.
The Pirates continued to put the ball in play and pushed two more runs across the plate in the fourth to extend their lead to 4-1.
With one swing by Perez the Saints closed the gap as a two-run homerun moved the count to 4-3 in favor of the Pirates in the fifth. A great defensive play by Ashleigh Scott at third and fine pitching from Kayla Irvin who entered in relief and got pinch hitter Balderas to strike out kept the Pirates in the lead to end the top of the fifth.
A two run homerun on the first pitch Ramirez saw gave the Saints the lead back 5-4 in the top of the seventh. Needing to start something, Christina Crandall stepped to the plate and delivered a shot off the centerfield fence. Ramirez, attempting the sacrifice to advance the runner, laid down a perfect bunt down the first base line and reached safely to put the tying run at third and winning run on first.
A deep sacrifice fly by Scott brought home pinch runner Ramos and tied the game 5-5, but SU couldn't push the game winner across as Ramirez was caught stealing.
With the international tie breaker in effect for extra innings, OLLU brought home Balderas from second to retake the lead 6-5. A wild pitch and a passed ball allowed the Saints to score one and give SU a two run deficit to make up in the bottom of the eighth.
A single and walk loaded the bases with no outs for the Pirates as Caroline Young took the plate. Young hit a shot to second base that was knocked down but not gathered in time to make a play at the plate, allowing SU to score one. Marissa Irvin's beautiful one handed bunt to the right side allowed the tying run to score and move the winning run to third with one out as speedy Irvin reached safely. Two infield pop outs kept the Pirates from scoring the game winning run as the game ended in a tie as darkness fell on the field.
Ramirez led at the plate going 3-4 with one RBI while Scott and Young drove in two runs each.
Southwestern moves to 3-8-1 on the year while OLLU improves o 7-3-1. SU remains at home to face Calumet College on Sunday beginning at noon, weather permitting.