IRVING, Texas - The Southwestern University softball team moved into a tie for third place in the SCAC Standings after earning a pair of wins, 12-2 (5) and 9-1 (6), over the Dallas Crusaders on Friday evening on the road.
In the first game, Dallas took the early 1-0 lead with a run in the first, but Southwestern responded with a pair of runs in the second thanks to a RBI single from sophomore Andrea Hern. A RBI groundout from sophomore Kaitlynn Copher made it a 3-1 game through three complete.
The Pirates exploded for eight runs in the fourth inning thanks in part to a two RBI double from sophomore Katie Bricarell, a two RBI single from freshman Grace Phelps, while Copher, Hern, and senior Taylor Curtis each added a RBI single.
Sophomore Lindsey Longuet pitched four complete, earning the win, while sophomore Bailey Meyer finished it off with an inning of work.
Curtis finished 3-for-3 with a double, a RBI, and two runs scored while Bricarell was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored, and two RBI. Junior Celeste Silvas was 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and two runs scored while sophomore Sydney Scott had a pair of runs scored.
In game two, the Crusaders jumped on top early on as they took a 1-0 lead in the second while slowing down the Pirate bats throughout the first four innings.
However, that would not last as Southwestern finally got on the board in the top of the fifth thanks to a RBI double by Scott followed by a two RBI double from Phelps to take a 3-1 lead.
The Pirates exploded for six runs in the sixth, suddenly forcing elimination in the inning. Jack got it started with a tremendous at bat, forcing a walk, and earning a RBI with the bases loaded to make it 4-1. Scott then stepped to the plate and laced a two RBI, finding herself on third with another run crossing the plate after an error.
Silvas followed with a RBI ground out while Copher ripped a RBI single as the Pirates suddenly had an eight run lead.
Meyer (W, 10-4) put the game away in the bottom half of the sixth, earning the compelte game in the process. Meyer pitched six complete, allowing one run, none earned, on three hits to go with five strikeouts.
Scott finished 3-for-4 with a doube, three RBI, and two runs scored while Phelps was 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI as well as a run scored. Copher finished 2-for-4 with a RBI as the Pirates had 11 hits in the contest.
Southwestern moves to 19-14 overall and 8-10 in SCAC play. They can wrap up the No. 3 seed at the SCAC Championships in a lot of different ways, but can simply get it by completing the sweep of the Crusaders on Sunday with Centenary losing to No. 2 Texas Lutheran at least one. The Pirates and Crusaders will wrap up the series on Sunday with a DH starting at 1 PM.