'Roo Softball Splits Doubleheader with Ozarks

Sophia Hernandez hit three homers and earned a win on the mound as the Austin College softball team split its doubleheader with the University of the Ozarks on Thursday afternoon. The 'Roos won game one 12-4 before being edged 5-3 in game two to bring their record to 2-14 on the year. 

In game one the 'Roos jumped out to a huge lead early, putting seven runs on the board in the bottom of the first. Hernandez got things started when she hit a two run homer and a pair of errors would open the door to five more runs in the inning. Mallory Rossmann and Jessica Baker each had an RBI in the inning. 

Ozarks cut the margin to 7-2 in the third, but Hernandez belted her second two run homer of the game in the bottom half of the inning to put Austin College ahead 9-4. Hernandez would finish the game 3-for-3 with three runs scored and four runs batted in. 

Both teams scored two runs in the fourth, with the 'Roos getting an RBI triple from Charlotte Trudell with Trudell then scoring on a sacrifice fly by Rossmann, and Heather Farquhar's single off the fence in center brought home Hernandez to make it 12-4 and trigger the mercy rule. 

Along with her performance at the plate, Hernandez allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits in 5.0 innings of work and struck out two to earn the win. Baker went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and an RBI, Farquhar went 3-for-4, Trudell went 2-for-3, and Briana Hernandez went 2-for-4 in the win as Austin College collected 15 hits in less than five full innings. 

In game two, the Eagles grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first but Hernandez would hit her third two run homer of the doubleheader in the third to put the 'Roos on top 2-1. However, Ozarks would answer with four runs in the top of the fourth to surge ahead 5-2, and that's how things would stay until the bottom of the seventh. Heather Farquhar hit a solo homer with one out in the seventh and the 'Roos put two more runners on base, but were unable to close the gap any more in the 5-3 defeat. 

Baker went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and Farquhar went 2-for-4 with a homer. Hernandez finished 1-for-4 with two RBI. Sam Matulis took the loss for Austin College, surrendering five runs, four earned, on 10 hits in 4.0 innings of work with four strikeouts and no walks. 

Austin College is back in action on Saturday when they host Louisiana College for a doubleheader beginning at noon. 

Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. 

About Austin College 

Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope's influential book Colleges that Change Lives.