GAME PREVIEW: Dallas at LeTourneau University (2/7) | vs. Texas-Dallas (2/8)

(Photo courtesy of Hannah Miller)

MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE

(2/8 vs. Texas-Dallas)

College TV Ticket (Video), Livestats (GM 1), Livestats (GM 2)

FIRST PITCH

The University of Dallas softball team opens the 2014-15 campaign with a doubleheader at LeTourneau University on Saturday at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. The Lady Crusaders have a quick turnaround the next day hosting University of Dallas at Texas with a twinbill at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Dallas returns to the diamond after displaying a 12-29 record overall and 7-15 effort versus Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference foes. The Navy and White will suit up for 40 contests this campaign.

KEY PLAYERS

The Lady Crusaders boast 18 players on their current roster this season, with 10 returning from last season. Dallas was led offensively by a quartet of players batting at least .300. Sophomore Lyda Tesauro (Hollywood, Fla.) paced the squad with a .443 clip, 39 hits, three triples, and 18 stolen bases.

Junior Erin Begle (Houston, Texas) chipped in a .342 average with 38 hits and a team-best 12 doubles and 23 RBI. Senior Taylor Garcia (Pflugerville, TX) bolstered the offense with a team-high .607 slugging percentage to go along with a .328 average and four home runs.

Her total amount of round-trippers ranked second on UD behind sophomore Alexandria Compte (Houston, Texas); who led the league with six last year.

Rounding out the unit of plus .300 hitters was sophomore Avery Finch with a .317 mark. Her 38 hits matched Begle for second on the team and she swiped 17 bags to place her one behind the team-high.

Returning to the circle for the Lady Crusaders is sophomore Katie Lee (Houston, Texas). She logged a 6-13 record and 2.82 earned run average (ERA) in 146.2 innings pitched.

Complete season preview can be viewed here in the SCAC Media Guide.  

HOME OPENER

Dallas opens at Crusader field on Feb. 8 against Texas-Dallas. The Navy and White will play six games in a row at the friendly confines this month. 18 contests makeup the ledger for UD at Irving, Texas.

SCOUTING THE YELLOWJACKETS

LeTourneau opens the new season on Feb. 6 with a doubleheader at home against Lyon College. Coming off its first American Southwest Conference (ASC) Tournament appearance, the YellowJackets were tabbed eighth in the preseason conference poll.

Last season LETU managed a 17-26 overall record with an 11-22 mark versus league foes in 2014. 26 players were named to the ASC Softball Preseason Watch List by the head coaches, with a trio of YellowJackets being selected. Utility player Courtney Matulis, utility player Megan Hill, and pitcher/infielder Kaylee Pritchett were selected for LeTourneau.

2011 is the last time these programs met on the field, with UD going 0-2 against the YellowJackets. The doubleheader was held in Irving, Texas.

SCOUTING THE COMETS

University of Texas at Dallas was picked sixth to finish in the ASC, and will travel to Crusader Field at the University of Dallas to open the new campaign. The Comets posted a 23-19 overall record and 16-17 mark in conference action to advance to the league tournament for the second-straight season.

Catcher Aly Hudec, outfielder Chelsea Sarto, and pitcher Sara Davison were each listed among the ASC Preseason Players to watch. Avery McHugh returns after leading UTD with a .397 average along with 10 doubles and five homers last spring.

In 2014, the two programs faced each other four times, with a doubleheader being played at each home venue. UD went 0-4 against the Comets.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Dallas will enjoy a week off before welcoming Sul Ross State University for a doubleheader on Feb. 15. First pitch is at 11 a.m. and then 1 p.m. The pair of contests are makeup dates from last weekend's rainouts at SRSU.

SOCIAL MEDIA

UD Twitter: @UDallasSports

Softball Twitter: @UDallasSoftball

Facebook: University of Dallas Athletics