Offense Shines as Pirates Earn Sweep on First Day of Florida Trip

Offense Shines as Pirates Earn Sweep on First Day of Florida Trip

CLERMONT, Fla. - The Southwestern University softball team opened their Florida roadtrip with a bang, scoring 21 total runs on 31 hits as they routed Adrian and Johnson State on Friday afternoon at Legends Way Field.

In the first contest against the Bulldogs, the Pirates jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first thanks to a sac fly from sophomore Kaitlynn Copher followed by a RBI grounder from sophomore Izzy Jack.

Adrian got one back in the first, but Southwestern answered with three in the second as sophomore Mary Alex Krosby, sophomore Sydney Scott, and Copher all drove in runs to push the lead to 5-2. Adrian again responded in the bottom half, adding another run, but Southwestern maintained a 5-2 lead.

The Pirates blew the game open in the fourth with a five run inning. Following a RBI singles from freshamn Grace Phelps, Copher and Jack followed with back-to-back RBI doubles to break the game open at 10-2.

From there, sophomore Bailey Meyer closed the game out, pitching five complete, allowing one earned run on five hits including seven strikeouts to moves to 4-2 overall. Rebecca Neal (0-4) took the loss for the Bulldogs.

Copher finished 2-for-2 with a double and four RBIs while Jack was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Scott was 2-for-4 with a RBI and three runs scored while junior Celeste Silvas was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Sophomore McKenna Zinke went 2-for-2 in teh game.

In the second game against Johnson State, Southwestern scored runs in each inning in an 11-0 rout of the Badgers. Copher carried over her hot hitting to the first with a two RBI singles for the early two run lead.

Southwestern then exploded for five runs in the second starting with a RBI single from Silvas. Moments later, Copher tripled to right, scoring two to push the lead to 5-0. Jack and sophomore Katie Bricarell had back-to-back RBI doubles as the Pirates led 7-0 after two.

Phelps made it 8-0 with a solo shot in the third while freshman Mercedes Gonzalez tripled home a run followed by RBI singles by Krosby and junior Mallory Johnson to make it 11-0.

Copher finished 3-for-3 with four more RBIs while Silvas, Phelps, and Krosby each went 2-for-3 with Silvas and Phelps scored two runs each. Scott scored a pair of runs as well in the contest.

Sophomore Nadia Netek pitched four complete, allowing only one hit and walking one while freshman Tori Montemayor closed the fifth out with a 1-2-3 inning for the win. Mikaela Magnant (0-2) took the loss for the Badgers.

Southwestern moves to 6-4 overall and will be back in action in Florida tomorrow with a 1 PM matchup against Mount Union followed by a 5 PM matchup against Penn State Brandywine.