'Roos Earn Series Win Over Schreiner

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College softball team split a doubleheader against Schreiner University on Saturday, dropping the first game 4-3 before rebounding for a commanding 10-4 victory in the second contest. With the split, Austin College secures the series victory by taking two of three games this weekend.

In the opening game, Austin College took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Lauren Trott delivered a run-scoring single to bring Emma Freiermuht home. Schreiner responded in the fifth inning as Zoe Salinas drove in two runs with a single to give her team the advantage. The Mountaineers extended their lead in the sixth when Brinley Smith hit a two-run double.

Austin College mounted a late rally, as Jillian Kelly hit a run-scoring single in the sixth inning and Trott added another run-scoring single in the seventh to cut the deficit to one. However, Schreiner held on for the narrow win despite the 'Roos getting the potential winning-run to the dish.

Trott led Austin College at the plate in the first game, going 2-for-3 with two runs driven in, while Freiermuht added two hits, including a double. Cassidy Cantera threw all seven innings for Austin College. For Schreiner, Salinas and Smith each drove in a pair of runs, and Olivia Montoya tossed seven innings to earn the victory.

The second game belonged to Austin College, as the offense tallied 14 hits. The team scored in the first and third innings before putting together a three-run fourth inning. Emily Autrey picked up a run batted in when she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Jadyn Myers followed with a run-scoring single.

Schreiner attempted to keep pace, with Romy Nunez plating a run with a double in the fifth inning and Sarah Almazan adding a run-scoring single. Salinas also contributed an RBI single in the sixth inning to finish the game a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate.

Austin College put the game out of reach with a five-run outburst in the bottom of the sixth inning. Faith Butler, who tripled earlier in the game, hit a run-scoring single, and Freiermuht added an RBI base hit of her own. Autrey brought another run home with a sacrifice fly.

Butler finished 2-for-2 with two runs and a run driven in, while Myers went 2-for-4 with a triple, a run, and one RBI. Freiermuht scored twice and collected two hits.

Trott earned the victory for Austin College by tossing all seven innings and striking out five. She also contributed offensively with a pair of hits, including a double. Rylee Justice took the loss for Schreiner after throwing the first three innings.