Concordia Tops 'Roo Softball in Series Opener

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College softball team found itself in a 5-0 hole early and was unable to mount a comeback, falling 7-4 to visiting Concordia University (Texas) on Saturday evening at Sherman high as the two teams kicked off a three-game Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference series. The 'Roos are now 3-29 overall and 3-19 in conference play.

The Tornados pushed two runs across in the first inning to grab an early lead, with Kylie Denaro getting the scoring started by coming home on a wild pitch, and Mayson Post drew a bases loaded walk to make it 2-0 heading into the second. A pair of throwing errors opened the door for three runs in the second inning as Concordia went on top 5-0, but Austin College got two runs back in the bottom half of the inning to cut it to 5-2. 

Ashlynn Brothers drove in Chyrsi Hemby with a bunt for the first run, and an error later in the inning allowed Alexus Johnson to come home to pull the 'Roos to within three runs. The score remained 5-2 until the sixth, when Grace Coleman singled home a run to make it 6-2 in favor of the Tornados, and Kylie Kirk belted a solo homer in the seventh to make it 7-2. Reagan Brinkley knocked in a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut it to a 7-4 game, but that's where the comeback bid would end.

Johnson took the loss for Austin College, going the distance in the circle and giving up seven runs, six earned, on 14 hits. Post got the win for Concordia, and Karlee Mathis came on in the seventh to earn the save. Hailie Swiatkowski, Kassidy Bradshaw, and Brinkley each had two hits to pace the 'Roos at the plate, and Coleman was 3-for-3 to lead Concordia. The two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday with a doubleheader set to begin at noon.