IRVING, Texas — Southwestern softball opened conference play against the University of Dallas Crusaders, losing both games in today's doubleheader with a third game to be played tomorrow.
Game 1: Dallas 2, Southwestern 0
A pair of errors proved costly for Southwestern, putting the Pirates on the wrong end of a brilliant pitching duel between Taylor McKenzie and Dallas's Karina Campo.
McKenzie (0-1) was dominant in the pitcher's circle. The freshman entered the game second in the SCAC in strikeouts per game with 7.10 and boosted her average with 11 in six innings of work against Dallas. She faced just 24 batters and allowed only five hits, with both runs unearned.
Southwestern errors allowed two runners to reach in the first inning, allowing Dallas to score on an error in the outfield. The Crusaders added another run in the bottom of the fourth on a passed ball.
Campo (2-4) threw all seven innings for Dallas, surrendering just five hits with no walks and one strikeout. Maddie Mefford led Southwestern with a 2-for-3 hitting performance. The Pirates failed to plate a run for the third time in the past four games, leaving eight runners stranded.
Game 2: Dallas 5, Southwestern 4
Dallas leadoff hitter Emily Luna capped off a brilliant performance with the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single to center field, scoring Caitlynn Freyman, who opened the inning with a walk.
A first-inning error and passed ball cost Southwestern two runs in the bottom of the first on an RBI single up the middle by Maddy Murphy.
Southwestern battled back, plating one run each over the next three innings. Sam Freize knocked in a run with a double to left-center in the second, Kathryn Dull hit a solo blast in the third, and Paige Shuck scored on an error in the fourth to give Southwestern a 3-2 lead.
Dallas opened the fifth inning with three consecutive singles, scoring on a walk and a Lizetta Sosa RBI single to left-center.
Southwestern responded in the top of the sixth with a Jodi Millhouse RBI double to score Erica Otto and tie the game.
After Luna put Dallas back on top, Southwestern put two on to start the seventh on a Dull single and Meghan McCarthy walk, but the next three hitters went down in order to end the game.
Southwestern drops to 1-9. The Pirates will look to break their losing streak against Dallas tomorrow at noon, then host Case Western Reserve on Monday for a doubleheader that starts at 3:30 p.m.