Softball Avenges Earlier Loss at Texas Lutheran

Posted: Feb 27, 2011

GEORGETOWN, Texas – Southwestern's softball team got the revenge they sought over Texas Lutheran University, sweeping their home double header 3-2 in eight innings and 5-0 on Sunday afternoon. The wins improve SU to 6-6 on the year.

After Lyndsy Maus retired the first three batters in order Taylor Turpin got SU's offensive attack started with a shot to right field that glanced off the right fielder's glove who covered a lot of ground to get close to the play. Turpin's speed got her to second without a play being made and put a runner in scoring position early. Jacquelin Rosson's chopper moved Turpin to third and she was brought home on Kayla Irvin's well-placed chopper to the right side which was stopped by the outstretched glove of TLU's diving second baseman to make the play at first, but they couldn't get Turpin at home as Southwestern took a 1-0 lead after one.

The Bulldogs advanced a runner to third with two outs in the top of the third but solid defensive plays by Amanda Ambrose and Maus held TLU scoreless.

Southwestern continued to get runners on but were not able to get the runners around as the Bulldog defense tightened down. Maus continued to be sensational on the mound, keeping batters off-balance and forcing groundouts when the ball was put in play, keeping her no hitter alive through six.

Pinch hitter Hatley broke up the no-hitter for Maus with a chopper just over her head to start the seventh. A stolen base put the tying run in scoring position with no outs for TLU. Maus struck out the next batter but TLU got runners at second and third with a single to centerfield by Livanec. Cain popped up to Carmen Gadt at first base but Stewart beat out the infield single and two TLU runners snuck home to put the Bulldogs up 2-1.

Tessa Galloway hit a shot to deep right field to start off the inning and after the right fielder fell down advanced to third, representing the tying run with no outs. Abigail O'Connor followed with a fly ball to almost the same location but this time it was caught by TLU's right fielder but was deep enough for Galloway to tag and beat the throw home to tie the game and force extras.

Texas Lutheran advanced a runner to third in the top of the eighth but Maus got hitters to ground out and flyout, giving SU the opportunity to seal the win in the bottom half of the inning.

And seal it they did starting with a lead-off walk to Rosson who advanced to second on a wild pitch. With one out Kaitlyn Pavlicek stepped to the plate and hit a chopper up the middle that rolled into centerfield, allowing Rosson to score the game winner.

Maus earned her second win of the year, allowing two runs, earned, on three hits while walking one and striking out seven. Carmicheal garnered her first loss of the year, allowing seven hits and three runs while walking three and striking out two.

Pavlicek led the way at the plate in game one, going 2-4 with one RBI.

In game two Southwestern was the first to score once again, this time in the second inning on a single to right field by Galloway that drove in Pavlicek and then Gadt's suicide bunt was perfect, allowing Kucharski to slide in safely just before the tag. Ambrose's fly to center gave Galloway time to tag and make it safely home to put the Pirates up 3-0 after two.

Things were quiet for both teams until Ambrose sent one sailing over the left field fence with one out in the fifth, pushing SU's lead to four while Irvin's bloop single behind second base scored Turpin to put Southwestern up by five, 5-0, through five.

Texas Lutheran put up a good fight in the top of the seventh with three consecutive singles to load the bases with one out. Lauren Zearfoss got Childs to strike out and Stewart to ground out, ending the game.

Zearfoss earned her fourth win of the season, scattering seven hits while walking three and striking out 11. Mundine garnered her second loss of the year, allowing five earned runs on five hits while walking one and striking out two.

Southwestern had a balanced offensive attack in game two, with six Pirates recording a hit while Ambrose led with two RBI's.

The Pirates remain at home for a double header on Tuesday against Our Lady of the Lake University beginning at 1pm.