'Roo Softball Splits with Centenary

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College softball team split a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader with Centenary College on Saturday afternoon at Sherman High, securing a late 7-2 comeback victory in the opener before dropping a hard-fought 10-7 decision in the series finale.

In game one, the 'Roos rode a massive six-run sixth inning to erase a 2-1 deficit and secure the victory. Centenary initially took the lead on an RBI double from Emma Crow in the second inning and a run-scoring groundout by Jaeden Thrasher in the fourth. Austin College got on the board in the third inning when Tori Fowler ripped an RBI double to left field to score Skyler Vickers.

Trailing by one in the bottom of the sixth, the 'Roos offense erupted. Deana Martinez drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game, and pinch-hitter Emily Autrey followed with an RBI single to give Austin College the lead. Cheyenne Fields later scored on a wild pitch to extend the advantage. Fowler capped the massive frame with a single to right field that brought home two runs and forced a Centenary defensive error, allowing a third run to cross the plate on the play.

Fowler finished the first game 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI, while Fields added a multi-hit performance by going 2-for-3. Cassidy Cantera earned the complete-game win in the circle for the 'Roos, tossing seven strong innings and allowing just two runs on six hits without walking a single batter. Kaitlynn Alello paced the Ladies offensively, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles. Riley Myers took the loss for Centenary, yielding four runs over six innings of work.

Game two proved to be a high-scoring back-and-forth affair. Austin College struck quickly in the bottom of the first inning, grabbing a 2-0 lead on an RBI groundout from Reagan Brinkley and a run-scoring single to left field by Fields that brought home Lauren Trott.

Centenary cut the lead in half with a River Boultinghouse RBI groundout in the second inning before taking control with a four-run fifth. Abigail Hodgson delivered a two-run single up the middle, and Catherine Stokes followed with a two-run double to center to put the Ladies ahead 5-2.

The 'Roos answered immediately in the bottom of the fifth. Tessa Contreras reached on an error that allowed Jadyn Myers to score, and Fowler continued her strong day with an RBI single to left field. Brinkley then lifted a sacrifice fly to score Vickers, tying the game at 5-5.

The Ladies pulled away for good in the top of the sixth, plating five runs. Hilary Pillaro knocked an RBI single, Hodgson came through with another two-run single, and two more runs scored on an Austin College throwing error. Brinkley tried to spark a final rally for the 'Roos in the bottom of the seventh, lacing a two-run triple down the right-field line to score Emma Freiermuht and Vickers, but the comeback fell short.

Brinkley drove in a game-high four runs for Austin College, finishing 1-for-3 with a triple. Vickers scored twice and collected two hits, while Fowler went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Lauren Trott started in the circle for the 'Roos, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing five runs on six hits. Cantera took the loss in relief.

For Centenary, Hodgson went 2-for-4 with four RBI, and Libby Guidry picked up three hits. Haydyn Schexnayder earned the win in relief for the Ladies, allowing two runs on two hits over the final three innings.