GEORGETOWN, Texas — The Southwestern softball team splits its doubleheader against the No. 23-ranked Case Western Reserve University Spartans.
Southwestern 3, Case Western Reserve University 2
Southwestern softball got a brilliant performance from freshman pitcher Taylor McKenzie to upset the No. 23-ranked Spartans 3-2.
McKenzie threw all seven innings, striking out five while surrendering eight hits and two runs against a team that finished 13th in the nation in runs scored and 19th in batting average last season.
Southwestern plated its first run in the second inning, taking advantage of back-to-back walks. Jessey Nunez laid down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher's circle to put both runners in scoring position. Erica Otto ripped a shot through the right side for the RBI single.
In the bottom of the third, Meghan McCarthy added a second run for Southwestern in the bottom of the third, blasting an RBI triple to deep left field, scoring Kathryn Dull, who reached on an infield single.
The Pirates scored their third run in the bottom of the fourth. Otto reached second on an error by the centerfielder, followed by an infield single by Jodi Millhouse, who then stole second to put both runners in scoring position.
Alex Fletes grounded out to second, scoring Otto for the 3-0 lead.
Southwestern committed three consecutive errors to start a chaotic fifth inning, scoring a run on Kaili Gross's fielder's choice. McKenzie responded with two clutch strikeouts to mitigate the damage.
A double and walk put two on for the Spartans in the top of the seventh inning. Liv Thomas singled to center to score Rieger before McKenzie ended the game by inducing a groundout to first.
Case Western Reserve 3, Southwestern 2
Case Western Reserve University turned the tables on Southwestern, defeating the Pirates 3-2 to split the day's doubleheader.
The Pirates struck first, scoring in the bottom of the first inning. A pitch hit Alex Fletes, then Rylee Rudloff delivered an infield single. Maddie Mefford followed with an RBI double to left center.
Southwestern starting pitcher Madison Vela retired the Case Western Reserve lineup in order through the second and third innings, striking out the side in the third inning. However, Case Western Reserve finally broke through in the fourth, scoring on a Grace Yeung RBI double to right field, scoring Katelynn Lamm, who opened the inning with a walk. Case Western added two more runs in the fifth on a two-RBI double from Thomas, ending Vela's evening.
Vela pitched 4.2 innings, surrendering three earned runs off five hits and four walks with four strikeouts. Mattigan Aga replaced her, allowing two hits and two walks in 2.1 scoreless innings.
Otto led off the seventh with a single for Southwestern. Unfortunately, Fletes popped out in an attempt to bunt Otto into scoring position, and Case Western turned the double play with the out at first. Rudloff followed with a strikeout to end the game.
Southwestern improves to 3-10. The Pirates will travel to San Antonio on Wednesday to play Texas A&M-San Antonio in a doubleheader that starts at 3:00 p.m.
