KERRVILLE, Texas - After dropping the first game of their doubleheader on Sunday and the series, the Southwestern University softball team exploded for 14 runs on 16 hits to salvage the series with a 14-9 win over the Schreiner Mountaineers on Sunday afternoon.
In the first game, Southwestern found themselves playing from behind after a three run first gave Schreiner a 3-0 lead. Freshman Tori Montemayor singled home a run in the fourth to make it 3-1, but Schreiner responded with one run in the fourth to make it 4-1.
In the fifth, sophomore Kaitlynn Copher doubled home a run, but again, the Mountaineers responded with a run in the fifth to make it 5-2. Copher tried to get a rally going in the seventh with a RBI single, but it was not enough as Schreiner closed it out with a 5-3 win.
The Pirates had 13 hits, but only three runs to show for. Copher finished 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs while sophomore Sydney Scott was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Sophomore Katie Bricarell was 2-for-3 with a run scored while freshman Katelyn Francis also had a 2-for-3 day.
Sophomore Bailey Meyer (6-4) got the start and could not get out of the first, eventually being tagged with the loss. Sophomore Brooke Tomalty came in and pitched 5.1 innings, allowing one earned run on seven hits. Hannah Ortiz (7-0) went the complete game for Schreiner to each the win. Gabriela Acuna and Courtney Bigley each had a homerun while Acuna driving in two.
Schreiner looked as though they were eyeing a sweep, taking a 4-0 lead after two innings of play. However, the Southwestern bats finally awoken as they scored 14 runs in the next three innings to take control of the game.
The Pirates took advantage of Mountaineer miscues and got a RBI single from Copher in the third to make it a 4-2 game. In the fourth, Scott singled home two to tie it while freshman Grace Phelps followed with a two run single to make it 6-4. Bricarell added a two RBI double while senior Taylor Curtis doubled in a run as the Pirates scored seven in the fourth inning to lead 9-4.
Schreiner got two back in the bottom of the fourth, but Southwestern, again, had an answer, scoring five more in the fifth to take a 14-6 lead. Junior Celeste Silvas brought home a run on a RBI groundout followed by a two RBI single from Copher and a two-run blast by Bricarell to put the game out of reach.
The Mountaineers tried to rally late, but to duo of Nadia Netek (3-2) and Tomalty (S, 1) shut the door and took home the 14-9 win. Jessica Vrana (3-1) took her first loss of the season for Schreiner.
Bricarell finished 2-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs scored while Copher was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored. Scott finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored while Phelps was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Curtis was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a RBI while Netek helped her own cause, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored.'
Ashton Vasquez led Schreiner in game two, going 2-for-4 with a double, triple, and four RBIs.
Southwestern goes to 9-7 overall and 1-3 in SCAC play. They will return home for the first time since February 17th on Wednesday as they welcome in Hardin-Simmons for a doubleheader beginning at 1 PM.