GEORGETOWN, Texas — The Southwestern softball team put together its best offensive performance of the season and got a dominant performance from Taylor McKenzie (6-9) in the pitcher's circle to defeat Austin College 10-2. 

Southwestern blew the game open in the bottom of the first, scoring six runs. Maddie Mefford put the Pirates on the board with a one-out RBI double to right-center, scoring Jodi Millhouse, who led off with a walk. 

After Sam Martinez flew out to shortstop, Jessey Nunez hit a single to right field, and Samantha Saenz walked to load the bases. Then, Brooke Yanta cleared all three with a three-RBI double to left field. Millhouse and Erica Otto drew back-to-back walks with bases loaded in their second at-bats of the inning before Mefford grounded out to end the inning. 

The six runs were more than enough for McKenzie, who pitched all five innings, striking out 10 with two earned runs surrendered on four hits. It was the second time McKenzie reached double-digit strikeouts this season, finishing the day with 105 this season and becoming the first Southwestern freshman to reach 100 strikeouts since Lindsey Longuet did it in 2017.

Austin College scored a pair of runs in the third inning on an RBI double from Chyrsi Hemby and an infield RBI single from Carrie Johnson. 

Yanta added another Southwestern run in the fifth inning, capping off a big 2-for-3, four-RBI performance. Alex Fletes followed with an RBI single to second, and Martinez hit a walk-off two-RBI single to center field, scoring Millhouse and Fletes to trigger the mercy rule. 

Southwestern improves to 11-22 with a 6-10 conference record. The Pirates will play Austin College in a doubleheader tomorrow, starting at noon.