Softball rolls in game 1 to win Series; Late rally comes Short in Nightcap
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team (14-8, 7-2 SCAC) split with Austin College (5-8, 1-7 SCAC) on Tuesday night, but were able to still garner the series win, 3-1. It is the second league series for UD to claim this season, and boasts the squad to match its win total in conference in 2014; the highest since joining the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) four years ago.
Dallas secured the four-game set with its fifth-straight win, to tie a season-long in the first of the twinbill, with an 8-0 shutout. The decision was complete in six-innings, and was the home team's fifth on the campaign. The Roos' mustered a 4-3 final in the nightcap.
After a two and a half scoreless frames, UD clobbered a four-hit third to shift the momentum in its favor for the contest. The Lady Crusaders added one in the fourth to build the margin before putting things wide open in the bottom of the sixth.
The third inning was started with two reaching for the Navy and White. A trio of base knocks in a row, the first two counting for doubles, lifted Dallas in front for good. Freshman Madison Goforth (Tyler, Texas) got the RBI production started with two to break the knotted matchup. Sophomore Lyda Tesauro (Hollywood, Fla.) cranked one down the leftfield line, and senior Taylor Garcia (Pflugerville, Texas) built on her team-leading RBI tally with a single up the middle.
Goforth drove in a career-best five Lady Crusaders to go with a pair of hits, both two-sackers, in the triumph. Sophomore Avery Finch (Jamul, Calif.) and Tesauro joined the third baseman with multiple knocks in game one.
Sophomore Katie Lee (Houston, Texas), who tied and broke the single-season record for wins last night in the sweep, won her 13th after a four-hit shutout. She fanned four as she blanked the opponent for the fifth time.
AC was able to snap the Lady Crusaders' bid on its season-long win total, but broke a knotted affair in the fifth and held off a late run by the home team in the final at bat.
After the visitors plated a pair in the second, Dallas countered with two of its own in the third inning. Garcia, who finished the series with seven RBI, brought the Navy and White back even with a two-out double.
Sophia Hernandez (3-4), who started in the circle for Austin College, helped her cause with double to left center to move the road team ahead. Raquel Vara's single to center in the top of the sixth was much needed insurance.
The home squad could not recreate another late rally like the second contest in Monday's effort, where UD combined for seven in the fifth and sixth. The Lady Crusaders did nip the margin to one in the seventh with a triple by junior Erin Begle (Houston, Texas). Tesauro crossed the dish for the second time in the game.
Still, with the tying runner one bag away, the Navy and White fell short as the Roos' escaped with their first SCAC victory.
Finch paced Dallas with three hits in four at-bats, and stole twice in the first affair. Tesauro matched the SCAC's leading stealer with a pair in game two. Kotlar added one in the setback.
Joining the center fielder with a multi-hit display was freshman Eliah Davila (Abilene, Texas) and Begle with a pair apiece.
UD managed to accumulate 18 hits total, with nine in each contest. The Maroon and Gold doubled its final tally in the first game with eight, and Vera tied a game-high three with an RBI and run scored. Chelsea Easley collected two, and Delaney England drove in a runner.
Hernandez limited the damage to three runs (one earned) with two walks and two strikeouts in the circle. Lee gave up four runs (one earned) while walking none and fanning a quartet again.
UP NEXT
Dallas remains in conference play March 28-29 at Southwestern University.