GEORGETOWN, Texas – After being shocked in game one 2-1 by Centenary, the Pirates unleashed offensively to take a game two run-rule win 12-4.
Southwestern was knocking at the door in the first two innings, but it took until the third for the Pirates to push one across as Karen Ramirez's single to left field brought home Linsay Biggers. Centenary promptly tied the game on a sacrifice fly from Hancock in the top of the fourth.
Nicole Gibbs and the Pirates controlled the Ladies' offense, even after loading the bases in the top of the seventh as the game rolled into the bottom of the seventh 1-1.
Stacy Rosengren came off the bench to pinch hit to open the bottom of the seventh and did her job with a leadoff double to left field. Michele Ramos laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt right in front of the plate, but Centenary's Woods pulled her foot from the bag early, leaving Ramos safe and giving the Pirates first and third with one out.
Ramos' chopper to short was fielded cleanly, and though Viskozki's throw was high, Allison was able to snag the ball and tag out pinch runner Anna Payne at home. Unruh got Christina Crandall to strike out and Ramirez to pop out to end the threat and move the game into extra innings.
Centenary posted back to back singles to lead-off the eighth, but the Pirates took advantage of a runner's interference call and got the next three batters to end the threat and move into the bottom half of the inning.
Scott led off the bottom of the eighth with a hard hit single to second base and advanced to third with head's up base running, but Caroline Young's shot to right field with two outs was snagged by Centenary's Moran to end the eighth.
The Ladies pulled ahead in the ninth with an RBI double from Patterson to bring home Crites. The run proved to be the game winner as the Pirates were unable to get anything going in the bottom half of the inning, falling 2-1 in nine.
Three Pirates had two hits in the game as SU stranded eight base runners in game one. Centenary was led by Patterson who went 3-5 from the plate. Gibbs garnered the loss, allowing two runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and five walks. Gibbs' counterpart, Unruh, allowed one run on eight hits while walking one and striking out five.
Katie Hancock opened game two with a huge two-RBI homerun over the center field fence off starting pitcher Cozette Palmer to put the Ladies quickly up 2-0 after the top of the first.
Southwestern had the response, this time, scoring three in the bottom of the second on five hits to take the lead 3-2. In another huge inning in the third, Southwestern posted two more runs on three hits to extend their lead to three, 5-2.
Ramirez's bomb to left field off the scoreboard in the fourth made the Pirates' lead 6-2. After some sloppy play by SU, Centenary was able to take advantage and scored two to cut Southwestern's lead to two, 6-4.
The Pirates opened up offensively with five runs on seven hits in the fifth to push their lead to seven, 11-4. After taking care of business in the top of the sixth, SU wasted no time closing out the game as Biggers doubled to right center, driving home Caroline Young for the 12-4 run rule victory.
Palmer earned the win in four innings of work, allowing four runs on three hits while walking five and striking out three. Gibbs was tough in relief, going two innings and allowing no runs or hits. Unruh garnered the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out one.
At the plate, Ramos was a perfect 3-3 with two runs scored and one RBI.
After the split Southwestern moves to 6-13-1 on the year and 3-5 in the SCAC while the Ladies move to 2-14 overall and 2-4 in conference play.
The two teams resume play tomorrow beginning at noon.