Wild Pitches cap Wild Comeback for Softball in Saturday split vs. SW' Assemblies of God
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team stunned Southwestern Assemblies of God by rallying down four runs to comeback 6-5 in its last at bat to salvage a split on Saturday. The Crusaders had dropped three in a row including a 4-2 decision in the first game that afternoon.
Down 5-1 and having left five runners combined the past two frames, the home team rallied with four-of-10 hits to start a comeback. Three-of-five wild pitches from the Lions assisted with the come-from-behind victory, including two in one at bat that allowed pinch runner Shannon Sheeley (Cedar Hill, Texas) to race around and score the game-winning run that capped a 10-game homestand on a high note.
GAME ONE INFORMATION
Teams: Southwestern Assemblies of God University (4), University of Dallas (2)
Records: SW' Assemblies of God (8-11), Dallas (1-8)
Pitching decisions: W) Ray (7-2), L) Galvan (1-2)
NOTABLE STATISTICS
- Top three batters in UD's lineup combined for all the base hits (4). That trio is made up of: Allison Kotlar (Edna, Texas), Jade Miller (Plano, Texas), and Melanie Savala (Bryan, Texas)
- Miller went 2-for-2 including a double and triple. She also swiped a base and scored a run.
- Savala scored the other Crusader run and stole a bag.
- Lauren Galvan (Bryan, Texas) was saddled with the loss after going seven innings and allowing four runs (3 earned) on seven hits. She walked two and struck out one.
- SAGU was led by Rachel Ray in the circle with a complete game four-hitter. Her two runs given up were unearned. Ray also fanned seven while not walking a batter.
- Offensively no extra base knocks for the Lions. Baylee McBrannon and Destinee Vindiola each had multiple hit games with two apiece. Kristin Stringer drove in the only runs from either side (2).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams crossed the plate in the first inning at least once. The Lions singled three times in a row after a lead-off out to load the bases. Galvan got by with limited damage as a fielder's choice got a force out at home for the second out. However, Dallas went for a double play and the relay back was not in time as Vindiola hustled down the line and slid head first avoiding the tag.
The Crusaders responded in their turn to bat with a pair of runs. An error by SAGU's shortstop on a ball that went under her legs allowed Savala and Miller to score. The speedy duo each recorded hits to get on base earlier. Miller doubled to left center with one out and stole third. Savala beat out a single to short and stole second on a strikeout that was the second retired UD player. Mackenzie Tano (Wylie, Texas) had the good fortune of putting the ball in play that snuck under the SAGU defender that would have ended the inning.
Dallas only led one entire inning. The Lions evened the contest at 2 with a sacrifice bunt by Stringer that came with the bases loaded. McBrannon scored. A miscue in the fifth by the home right fielder and double steal in the seventh that was completed with McBrannon scoring on the advancement home after a throw-down were the determining runs for Southwestern Assemblies of God.
GAME TWO INFORMATION
Teams: Southwestern Assemblies of God University (5), University of Dallas (6)
Records: SW' Assemblies of God (8-12), Dallas (-8)
Pitching decisions: W) K. Lee (1-5) L) H. Lee (1-8)
NOTABLE STATISTICS
- Dallas totaled season bests in runs (6) and hits (10).
- Miller and Savala both had multiple hit games with a pair of hits apiece. Savala added a free pass.
- Tano's base knock was a double and only extra base hit for UD. She scored twice including the game-tying run in the 7th. Tano added a pair of ribbies.
- Katelyn Lazarek (Seattle, Wash.) and Alexandria Compte (Houston, Texas) etched the other runs batted in for the home team.
- Lazarek and Tano each had a stolen base.
- Katie Lee (Houston, Texas) picked up her first win of 2017 and allowed five runs (all earned) on eight hits. She walked and struck out one. Lee adds to her all-time wins lead in the record books (41).
- The Lions collected eight hits total. McBrannon and Kaylee Milstead earned the multi-hit games with same stat lines (2-3). McBrannon drove in a run and had the team's one steal in as many attempts.
- Cheyenne Fults went deep for a two-run homer.
- Vindiola raced for a triple.
- In the circle, Hannah Lee started and went six innings. She allowed four runs on nine hits. Lee also walked three and struck out one. She threw four wild pitches.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SW' Assemblies of God gained the early lead with the first five runs of the contest. It racked up a three-run 2nd on just as many hits. A pair of those knocks came within the first three batters, as Lee for UD faced bases loaded and no outs. Kaitlyn Canales got the first RBI with a groundout to third base. Rieanha Cano followed with a groundout to second base, and another run came in on the play. The third straight RBI for SAGU was notched by McBrannon on a single the other way to left field.
In the next top of the inning, the Lions started off with their extra base hits of the game. Vindiola tripled to right field and Fults lifted a shot over the left field wall to make it 5-0.
Dallas did not have much going besides a two-out threat in its first at bat. In the fourth, the Crusaders avoided the shutout bid with Compte hitting a sacrifice fly to center field. No hits were whacked that inning as Tano and Lazarek each walked. Tano had a one-out free pass and then swiped second. A wild pitch got her to third and then Lazrek walked. Compte drove in Tano on her fly ball, but Lazarek – who had moved to second on a stolen base during the AB – was caught at third also trying to advance.
A trio of singles in the 5th inning went for null as the Crusaders left the bases juiced. Miller and Savala kept a two-out inning alive with back-to-back hits but were too hard for runners to advance past 60 feet. In the 6th, Dallas did not record a hit but left a pair on first and second.
Down to their final three outs, the top of the lineup sparked a huge 7th for the Crusaders. It was the most runs in a single frame for Dallas this season as well. Kotlar singled to center. Miller singled to the pitcher on a bunt that put two on. The Lions subbed Miller out for Adrianna Barnes in the circle. She proceeded to walk Savala to load the bases with no outs. The only out of the inning was recorded next, but then things started to unravel.
With the team's leading run producer (5 at the time) Tano batting, a wild pitch was thrown by Barns and all runners advanced including Kotlar at home. Then Tano smacked a hard hit ball back up towards the middle. It ricocheted off the pitcher and went towards the backstop on the third base side. Tano reached on second and a pair of runs scored to make it 5-4. Lee re-entered the game to pitch. Lazarek singled to center and drove in Tano to make it a brand new ball game. Sheeley pinch ran and Christina Torre (Novato, Calif.) pinch hit. Sheeley moved to third on a wild pitch, and then a few pitches later sped on home on another one to send the Crusaders into its second win - both decided by a single run.
UP NEXT
Dallas plays its first road series with a doubleheader at LeTourneau University on March 7. First pitch is at 5 p.m.