SAN ANTONIO — After a slow start to the season, the Southwestern softball team appears to be settling into a rhythm after sweeping the Texas A&M University-San Antonio Jaguars in today's doubleheader to earn its fourth victory in its previous five games. 

Game 1: Southwestern 8, TAMUSA 1

Southwestern recorded double-digit hits for the third time this season, stringing together 11 to go with six walks in an 8-1 victory. 

Taylor McKenzie took the pitcher's circle for the Pirates, throwing a complete-game victory with no earned runs while allowing eight hits. 

After three scoreless innings, Southwestern broke the game open with four runs scored in each of the fourth and fifth innings. 

Jodi Millhouse opened the fourth inning with a leadoff single, leading the Pirates with a 3-for-4 hitting performance, scoring twice. Sav Frieze and Maddie Mefford followed with a walk and a hit to load the bases, and Brooke Yanta hit an RBI single through the left side. 

Izzy Richey followed with another RBI single. Then, Meghan McCarthy grounded out to first, scoring Mefford. After that, Jessey Nunez grounded out to second, scoring Yanta for the 4-0 lead.

The Pirates recorded five hits in the fifth inning, with RBIs from Frieze, Yanta, Richey, and Paige Shuck for the 8-0 lead. Texas A&M-San Antonio scored on an error in the bottom of the fifth for its lone run of the game. 

Frieze, Yanta, and Richey each hit 2-for-4 for the Pirates, combining for five RBIs and four runs scored. 

Game 2: Southwestern 4, TAMUSA 3

Southwestern scored four runs in the top of the seventh and held on in the bottom of the inning, leaving two stranded to defeat Texas A&M-San Antonio 4-3. 

Paige Rasmussen earned the victory in the pitcher's circle for Southwestern, throwing a complete game, striking out three with two walks while allowing eight hits and only one of three runs earned. 

Texas A&M-San Antonio opened the bottom of the first with two consecutive singles. Rasmussen followed by inducing a fly-out to center field and strikeout, but Gabby Mitchell doubled to right-center to plate one run. 

Both teams remained scoreless the rest of the way until Southwestern broke through in the top of the seventh inning. Southwestern's first four hitters reached base safely. 

Sam Saenz led the inning off with a double to left-center. Then, Paige Shuck reached on a fielding error, putting runners on the corners. Nunez followed with an RBI single to score one run. Then, Erica Otto drew a walk to load the bases. After a Southwestern strikeout, Rylee Rudloff drew a walk to score another run, and Frieze ripped a two-RBI single to take the 4-0 lead.

Texas A&M-San Antonio opened the bottom of the seventh with a Peyton Vasquez leadoff single, advancing to second on a fielding error. Andrea Ortiz grounded out to second, moving Vasquez to third. 

Marisol Vargas reached on a fielder's choice, with Vasquez scoring on an error. Rasmussen induced another groundout for the second out of the inning, but Karina Guzman followed with an RBI single to bring the Jaguars to within one. Then, Jordan Ramos fouled out to third to end the game. 

Southwestern improves to 5-10. The Pirates will host East Texas Baptist this Saturday for a doubleheader that begins at noon.