SEWANEE, Tenn. –
Sydney Tackett collected five hits with a pair of runs scored and
Abbie Buckner drove in a pair of runs in the second game but Sewanee dropped a doubleheader, 3-1 and 9-7, to Austin College in softball action here Tuesday.
The Tigers (4-8) stranded nine runners in the opener but ran themselves out of two innings, with runners thrown out at third trying to steal in the first and fourth inning.
Ansley Giffin hit a solo homer belted a solo homer in the fourth inning for the club's only run. Sewanee stranded a pair of runners in the second, third and fourth innings.
Reagan Huskey (2-2) suffered the loss, giving up three runs on seven hits with one strikeout. The 'Roos (7-5) scored a run in the first and two more in the fifth, backing up Hailie Swiatkowski (3-2), who allowed one run on seven hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
Two big innings by Austin College proved pivotal in the visitors notching the sweep, including a three-run first and a four-run fifth inning.
Buckner posted two hits and two RBIs while Tackett was 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored in the 9-7 loss.
Maggie Barker,
Frances Hunt and
Sarah Storsteen each collected two hits for the Tigers, who stranded nine in that contest as well.
Hanna Hollis (0-1), the second of four Sewanee hurlers, took the loss, giving up five runs on six hits in 1.2 innings. Alexus Johnson (4-2) posted the win for the 'Roos, allowing seven runs, one earned, on 12 hits with two strikeouts.
Sewanee opens conference play this weekend with a three-game series against Birmingham-Southern starting Saturday at Noon.
The 'Roos struck first in the opener, with Tori Fowler beating out an infield single with one out in the first inning and stealing second. She scored on a two-out single to left by Chyrsi Hemby for a 1-0 lead for Austin after a half inning.
The Tigers got a leadoff walk from Eve Bournais and
Zoe Crockett reached on a bunt single to start the bottom of the inning, but Bournais was thrown out trying to steal third, stalling the rally.
Buckner singled to open the second inning and Giffin walked with one out, but
Christian Cain flied out and
Kaylie Smith struck out to end the inning.
Tackett and
Hannah Wilson each singled with two outs in the third inning but were stranded and in the fourth, Giffin homered with one out, tying the game at one, and Cain walked before a single by Hunt, but pinch-runner
Emily Litchfield was caught stealing at third to end the frame.
Sewanee got the tying runs on base in the seventh when Storsteen reached on an error and Tackett doubled, but Wilson popped out to end the contest.
In the second game Elizabeth Preston led off with a walk for Austin College, stole second and scored on a single by Fowler. Carrie Johnson was hit and Hemby followed with an RBI doubled. Swiatkowski plated another run with a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 'Roos edge after a half inning.
The Tigers got a run back in the second when Storsteen singled with one out, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Huskey and scored on Buckner's single to center.
Sewanee put up its own crooked number in the third to take the lead, starting with a single by Tackett, who went to second on a bunt by Barker. Giffin's grounder went through the legs of the second baseman, into rightfield, and Tackett scored on the play.
Hunt and Storsteen both walked and Huskey's ground ball in the six-hole was knocked down by a diving Preston but her throw to third was not in time. Buckner then singled in almost the exact same spot, plating a run for a 5-3 advantage.
Alissandro Tobar singled with one out in the 'Roos fourth, stole second and came across on a double by left by Preston, making it a one-run game.
Austin College took control of the game in the fifth after a leadoff double by Hannah King. Swiatkowski moved the runner with a bunt and Johnson's grounded plated a run, tying the game. Pinch-hitter Andrea Saucedo singled and Tobar bunted her way on, with no one covering first base on the play.
Preston then doubled off the wall in centerfield, scoring both runners, and Fowler's RBI single to left pushed the 'Roos lead to 8-5.
In the sixth Hemby doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by King for a 9-5 Austin College advantage.
Bournais reached on an error with one out in the sixth, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on to center by Tackett, who took second on the throw. With two out Giffin singled down the rightfield line, pushing across another run, cutting the deficit to 9-7.
Storsteen doubled to leadoff the seventh, but the Tigers were unable to get the run across, dropping the second game.
