CONWAY, Ark. - Even with a long delay due to storms before wrapping up their first game at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament the Pirates used three first inning runs and cruised to an 8-2 victory over Centre College. The win advances SU to the second round where they will face #12 DePauw who earned a first-round bye by entering the tournament as the #1 seed in the East.

The Pirates were sharp defensively to start off the game and made quick work of scoring runs in the opening frame. Three consecutive singles scored one run and a pair of passed balls allowed two more across the plate as Southwestern jumped to a 3-0 lead.

Centre responded with one run of their own in the second, pulling within two, but the Pirates' steady stream of runs, one in each of the next three innings, allowed SU to build a 6-1 advantage before the rain began.

After a nearly three hour rain delay the two teams hit the field to close out the contest. Southwestern stepped to the plate in the bottom of the sixth, picking up where they left off, and scored two runs to push their lead to seven, 8-1.

Centre would not go quietly, however, as they loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the seventh. Kara Solomon, who had pitched great the entire game thus far, got Sena to pop out to Abigail O'Connor in foul territory for the first out. Childress singled to right-center allowing Benham to score but that would be the only run of the inning for the Colonels as Solomon got Teague and Coomer to fly-out.

Aly Pulver (pictured) and Katelyn Gola had great days at the plate, each going 2-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Katilyn Pavlicek performed well in her designated player position with a 2-4 day while driving in two runs.

Solomon went all seven innings, allowing just two runs (earned) on four hits. She walked five but struck out four throughout the contest, earning the victory.

The win moves Southwestern to 26-10 overall and continues to strengthen their case for a berth to the NCAA tournament. They advance to face #12 DePauw later today. Game time was originally scheduled for 2:00 pm but will certainly change with the threatening weather in and around the Conway, Ark. area. For the most up-to-date information on schedule changes, please check the official tournament website available here.