JACKSON, Tenn. - Five of the combined seven runs scored by Southwestern and Birmingham Southern in game three of the SCAC Conference Tournament came off two swings of the bat with each team posting a multi-run homerun in the game. BSC scored in the bottom of the sixth to claim the lead and hand SU a 4-3 loss.
A two-run homerun by Brittany Berkopec in the first inning gave the Panthers an early 2-0 lead, shocking the Pirates at the outset of the game.
A trio of infield singles loaded the bases for Southwestern with one out in the top of the second, giving them an opportunity to even the count. BSC's hurler, Ronni Ferris got out of the jam with two consecutive strike outs to allow the Panthers to keep the 2-0 lead.
BSC added to their lead in the second on an RBI grounder to the right side to bring in Jernigan to put the Panthers up 3-0.
One swing from Haley Hughes brought the game back even in the third. Taylor Turpin led off with a single and advanced to third on a single to right field by Kaitlyn Pavlicek. KP stole second, putting two runners in scoring position for power-hitter Haley Hughes. It turned out that it didn't matter where the runners were as Hughes hit a shot to left field that the crowd knew was out of the park as soon as it left her bat, tying the game at 3-3.
Defenses took control as the game wound to a conclusion, with sporadic base runners and no real threat to score from either team through five and a half. Birmingham Southern took control after Rucker reached on a walk and stole second base to move into scoring position with two outs. Bice drove a fastball into centerfield to bring in the go-ahead run for BSC 4-3 with one inning to play.
Southwestern managed to get runners on base but as was the case most of the game had trouble bringing them in as they fell 4-3.
Pavlicek garnered the loss despite a strong outing, allowing two runs on six hits. Fronk earned the win with 3.2 innings on the mound, allowing no runs and one hit.
Turpin and Hughes both posted two hit games while three Panthers, Bice, Lopez and Bassett recorded two hits each.
The loss drops the Pirates into the loser's bracket and they face Austin College on Saturday at 10 a.m.