SERIES PREVIEW: Dallas at Texas Lutheran University (4/3; DH | 4/4; DH)
(Photo Graphic Courtesy of Hannah Miller)
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
THE LEAD
The University of Dallas softball team (16-10, 9-5 SCAC) travels to Texas Lutheran University (22-4, 12-0 SCAC) on April 3-4. The first pitch on Friday is 5 p.m., and Saturday's start time is 12 p.m.
Dallas continues to impress on a historic campaign, setting a new Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) win record last weekend at Southwestern University. The mark was eclipsed 2014's total of seven, as the program continues its fourth season in the league.
The Lady Crusaders are currently on an eight-game road trip, and have gone 7-3 in the last 10 matchups away from the friendly confines in Irving, Texas. Entering the weekend, Dallas sits third in the standings.
LAST TIME OUT
It was an exciting series for UD, who split at Southwestern last weekend. Both doubleheaders resulted in the Navy and White claiming the latter affair. After falling 5-4 in the opener, the visitors pulled out a 9-8 victory in 11-innings. The triumph was Dallas' first over the Pirates in softball history.
On Sunday, the Lady Crusaders were nipped 6-3, and evened things in a 5-3 decision in the finale. Sophomore Katie Lee (Houston, Texas) pitched all 30 innings and extended the single-season record with 15.
Game 1 resulted in SU rallying late with a four-run sixth to go up 5-4. In the second contest of the twinbill, UD combined for five in the fifth and sixth to build a 6-2 advantage in the final at bat for the Black and Gold. Southwestern charged back with four in the bottom of the seventh. After the team's traded runs in the 10th, Dallas tallied two in the 11th and held the home squad to one to seal things.
In the second day's double dip, Dallas tied things in the fourth, but would be unable to slow down a two-run fourth and three-run fifth. It was a back-and-forth game two in the early going, but a pair of two-run frames in the third and fourth helped propel the Lady Crusaders to a four-game split.
IMPACT PLAYERS
Senior Taylor Garcia (Pflugerville, Texas) paces the club with a .402 batting average, three homers, and 32 RBI. The catcher has been scorching the ball of late with hits in eight of the last nine. Her team-high, seven-game hitting streak was pushed halfway through the Southwestern series. Garcia's four-RBI outing in the 5-3 win last contest tied and lifted her to a career mark in that category.
Sophomore Lyda Tesauro (Hollywood, Fla.) ranks second with a .373 batting average and hits with 28. She leads the Lady Crusaders with 11 doubles and has driven in 14. The outfielder has crossed the plate 23 times to rank at the top of the team. Tesauro is currently on a six-game hitting streak.
Rounding out the trio of top batting averages is sophomore Avery Finch (Jamul, Calif.) at a .363 clip. She is tied with Garcia as a team-leader in hits with 33 each. Finch has scored 22 times to match freshman Madison Goforth (Tyler, Texas) in that category. The outfielder has stolen 24 bases in 27 attempts to lead the conference and team. Fellow corner outfielder Tesauro slots second on UD and in the league with a perfect 19-for-19 display in bags swiped.
Lee continues to be a work horse in the circle, logging 161 innings, 22 complete games, and 87 strikeouts to lead the SCAC. Her win total is also among the highest in the conference. She also boasts an ERA of 2.40 and has walked 27.
QUICK HITS
- 5 players have cracked the .300 average mark. Among the unit include: junior Erin Begle (Houston, Texas), freshman Eliah Davila (Abilene, Texas), Garcia, Tesauro, and Finch.
- Garcia was named USCAA Player-of-the-Week for her results in the last eight games.
- 16 is the highest amount of wins since the 2010 campaign, and quickest to the total in program history.
- 2.25 is the second lowest ERA for all eight teams' in the SCAC.
- Dallas contains 79 steals in 88 attempts (89.7%) to pace the league.
- Winners of 13 out of last 18 contests.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Texas Lutheran remains unbeaten in SCAC action, and have won 19 in a row. The Bulldogs are 17-1 at home and lead the conference overall. TLU swept Trinity University last weekend in league play at San Antonio, Texas, and took a twinbill in non-conference with St. Olaf College on Tuesday. 10 of the last 15 affairs for the Black and Gold have been shut outs.
Leading the staff with four runs (two earned) in 51.1 innings for a 0.27 ERA is Taylor Grissom. Her efforts have given the defending SCAC Pitcher-of-the-Week a 10-0 record with five complete games.
Also dazzling in the circle are Veny Pizana (7-2) with a 1.13 ERA in 49.2 innings, and Samantha Yenne (3-2) with a 2.94 clip in 31 frames tossed.
10 players are ripping batting averages beyond .300, with Jennifer Gallagher highlighting the bats with a .455 clip. She paces TLU with 30 knocks, 10 for doubles, and 29 RBI to rank second in conference. Heather Hummel has blasted two of the team's 10 homers, and Brayden Pinckard and Ashley Jacobsen round out the trio of multiple times leaving the yard. Grace Estes has scored 23 times to paces the Bulldogs.
Texas Lutheran has posted the highest team batting average at .361 and ERA at 1.81 to pace the SCAC.
HISTORY
The programs met on the diamond last year for the first time since the Bulldogs became members that inaugural year. TLU swept the Lady Crusaders at home. Dallas has never played this weekend's opponent at Seguin, Texas, because a doubleheader was cancelled in 2012.
Dallas went 1-2 at Ed Kruse Stadium in 2014 during the SCAC Tournament hosted at TLU's venue. Both setbacks were decided by one run.
UP NEXT
Dallas will be back home for its final series at Crusader Field on Apr. 11-12. The Navy and White welcome Schreiner University.
SOCIAL MEDIA
UD Twitter: @UDallasSports
Softball Twitter: @UDallasSoftball
Facebook: University of Dallas Athletics