GEORGETOWN - The Southwestern University softball team came out to Taylor-Sanders Field on Championship Sunday looking for their third SCAC Title, but could no get past the top-seeded Texas Lutheran Bulldogs, who used a hot start to take an 8-1 victory over the Pirates.
The Pirates actually out hit the Bulldogs on this day, 9-7, but Texas Lutheran took advantage of 11 free passes to build their lead.
The Bulldogs were able to take advantage of a rocky start from sophomore Bailey Meyer, getting three runs off her in 0.1 innings of work for the early advantage. They made it 5-0 in the second and looked to be in complete control.
However, the Pirates used a terrific approach at the plate and began to get to the Bulldogs ace Maitlin Raycroft, who came into the game with back-to-back no hitters. The Pirates got on her early and often and already had six hits in the third inning.
The big moment in the game came in the third when the Pirates loaded the bases with nobody out, but Raycroft came through in a huge moment, getting a foul out and back-to-back strikeouts to keep it at 5-0.
Southwestern got a run back in the fifth as a bunt single by senior Taylor Curtis followed by an errant throw scored sophomore Kaitlynn Copher to bring it to a four run game at 5-1. However, TLU scored three more runs in the fifth and rode the arm of Raycroft, as well as Jordaine Bishop, to their fifth straight championship.
Raycroft earned the win while Bishop was credited with a save. Meyer took the loss for the Pirates while Longuet pitched the remaining 5.1 innings for SU.
Junior Celeste Silvas finished 3-for-4 in the contest was freshman Grace Phelps was 2-for-4 with a double. Copher added a 1-for-2 day with a single, two walks, and a run scored.
Following the event, Longuet, Phelps, Copher, and freshman Katelyn Francis were all named to the SCAC All-Tournament Team.
Southwestern concludes their season at 23-17 and runners up in the SCAC for the second straight season under Angela Froboese.