The hyped match-up between Southwestern and Trinity on the softball diamond didn't disappoint on Saturday afternoon. A run in the bottom of the seventh in game one and two runs in the sixth in game two lifted Southwestern to two wins, keeping their perfect SCAC record intact.
The Tigers threatened as the game got underway, loading the bases with two outs. Starting pitcher Lauren Zearfoss was cool and got out of the jam getting Greppi to pop out to Tessa Galloway in left field.
Four straight balls put leadoff hitter Taylor Turpin on in the first for Southwestern and was moved into scoring position after a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Jessica Bryant. Kaitlyn Pavlicek took a rise ball to centerfield and it popped out of MacPherson's glove allowing Turpin to advance to third and Pavlicek to second. Haley Hughes (pictured) was up next and laid down a surprise squeeze bunt down third to bring in Turpin for the first run of the game.
Trinity posted two runs in the third inning to take the lead when Sanchez's base hit to centerfield brought MacPherson in from third and Garrett scored from second by knocking the ball out of catcher Abigail O'Connor's glove on a throw delivered by Turpin in center.
With one swing the game was tied again with a homerun blast to left center by Kayla Irvin in the bottom of the third.
TU pushed back in the fourth, getting the first two batters on base and in scoring position with one out. Zearfoss took control and struck out MacPherson and got Garrett to pop out in foul territory to Bryant, keeping the 2-2 tie in place.
Defense took control on both sides with a scoreless fourth, fifth and sixth, keeping the game tied heading into the seventh. The top of the inning saw the Tigers at the top of the lineup with leadoff hitter MacPherson stepping to the plate first. Zearfoss got her to pop out to Amanda Ambrose at short and then Garrett grounded out to a charging Ambrose for the second out. Another pop out to Ambrose at short closed the top of the seventh, giving the Pirates a chance at the win.
The Pirates also had the top of their lineup at the plate to start the seventh. Turpin reached on a single to right field and advanced to second on Bryant's sacrifice bunt. Pavlicek's hard hit ball was right at centerfielder MacPherson bringing up Hughes with two outs. After a foul that Hughes just missed she took advantage of the next pitch, driving it down the left field line for the game winning double, driving in Turpin.
Zearfoss earned the win, her 11th of the season with seven innings of work allowing two runs, one earned on six hits while walking five and striking out seven. Devost received the game one loss for Trinity. Hughes led at the plate in game one for SU, going 2-4 with two RBI's.
The pitchers, Lyndsy Maus and Friday, took control as game two got underway with only one baserunner, Turpin's leadoff single in the first, through three innings. Three straight singles loaded the bases for the Tigers with no outs in the top of the fourth. A groundball to Hughes at first allowed MacPherson to score the first run of the game as Trinity took the lead 1-0.
Southwestern tied the game just one inning later with two outs. Turpin's lofting slap drifted to left center and was just out of reach of MacPherson diving, bringing in O'Connor from second base, moving the count to 1-1 through five.
The Pirates snagged the lead in the next inning with a leadoff single by Pavlicek. Pinch runner Jacquelin Rosson was moved to second on Hughes' grounder and was brought home on a single by Irvin and O'Conner padded the Pirate lead by one with an RBI single, driving in Kayla Irvin, moving the count to 3-1 through six.
Maus closed out the game on the mound, getting three straight Tigers to ground out for the win. She allowed one run on three hits while walking one and striking out three.
Turpin led the way at the plate going 2-3 with one RBI in game two.
The wins improve SU to 20-10 on the year and 6-0 in the SCAC while Trinity falls to 12-18, 4-2 in the conference.
The two teams wrap-up the series tomorrow with another double-header beginning at 12:00 pm.