GEORGETOWN, Texas — Southwestern softball hosted its second nationally-ranked team this week, losing 6-1 to the No. 4 East Texas Baptist University Tigers a few days after splitting a doubleheader against then-ranked No. 23 Case Western Reserve University.
Southwestern starting pitcher Taylor McKenzie got into an early jam after East Texas Baptist opened the game with consecutive singles. However, McKenzie battled back to retire the next three hitters to escape the inning unscathed. The Pirates had opportunities in the first and second innings but left two runners stranded each time.
East Texas Baptist scored the game's first two runs in the top of the third, opening the inning with back-to-back singles from Amber Thibodeau and Tristen Maddox, putting both runners in scoring position after Maddox stole second.
White flied out to left field, but Corley Carpenter followed with a two-RBI single before Southwestern got out of the inning.
Southwestern loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the third, getting a single from Sav Frieze and walks drawn by Maddie Mefford and Erica Otto, but could not capitalize.
East Texas Baptist added another run in the top of the sixth. Delanie Loya and Mary Frances opened the inning with singles and were moved over to second and third on Sarah Bledsoe's sacrifice bunt. Then, McKenzie hit two consecutive hitters, scoring Frances. Paige Rasmussen replaced McKenzie in the pitcher's circle and got out of the inning.
Southwestern broke through in the bottom of the sixth, opening the inning with a leadoff triple by Otto. Izzy Richey followed with an RBI single to plate Southwestern's lone run.
East Texas Baptist broke the game open in the top of the seventh inning, scoring three runs on three hits and a walk, getting an RBI double from Tauryn Cummings and a two-RBI single from Musicant. Southwestern went down in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game.
Southwestern hit just 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, compared to East Texas Baptist's 4-for-11. The Tigers were 4-for-7 in leadoff at-bats. Mefford and Frieze had two hits each for Southwestern. Cummings led ETBU with a 3-for-4 hitting performance.
Southwestern drops to 5-11, including 1-4 at home. The Pirates will return to conference play next weekend for a three-game series against Trinity, playing a doubleheader in San Antonio on Saturday with a single game on Sunday.
