Softball falls Wednesday in 1st Road Games of 2017
LONGVIEW, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team was defeated in two games on Wednesday night at LeTourneau University. Both contests ended in five innings, with the Yellow Jackets prevailing 10-1 in the first game and 12-3 in the nightcap. The Crusaders combined for nine errors in the doubleheader.
GAME ONE INFORMATION
Team Scores: University of Dallas (1), LeTourneau University (10) (F/5)
Team Records: Dallas (2-9), LeTourneau (4-12)
Pitcher of Record: W) Genoway (2-4) L) Lee (1-5)
NOTABLE STATISTICS
- Allison Kotlar (Edna, Texas) posted a 2-for-3 game and drove the lone run in for the Crusaders.
- Dallas finished with four hits overall. Her hitting streak reached seven in this one.
- Jade Miller (Plano, Texas) and Baylee Leifester (Belton, Texas) each recorded the other knock.
- Miller added a walk and stolen base.
- Katie Lee (Houston, Texas) threw 3.1 innings and allowed nine runs (5 earned) on 10 hits.
- The Yellow Jackets had a quartet of batters go 2-for-3. Ashlin Roach highlighted the group with a homer and pair of RBI and runs scored.
- Alyssa Pierce was another two-hit batter with a pair of ribbies and crossed home once. She swiped two steals, as LETU completed five successfully.
- Faith Genoway tossed five innings in the run-rule win. She scattered four hits and allowed a run. Genoway walked one and fanned five.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first inning was relatively quiet on both sides. Miller drew a one out walk in the top half but was left, and Courtney Matulis singled to center with one out and stole second. Lee induced a fly out to center and line out to short in order to leave one.
An error in the bottom of the second allowed Bailey Woodard to reach. After her theft at second base, Pierce stung a single down the right field line to break the scoreless tie.
In the third and fourth innings, the Yellow Jackets compiled nine runs total in order to put the game out of reach. A five-run 3rd started the trouble as the home squad posted just as many hits. Lee retired the first batter, but then a trio of singles in a row capped by Macey Mize's RBI to left center started the eruption. An error led to a pair of runs being scored as Shelby Barrick reached. With two outs, Pierce singled to center and Kaitlyn Allen singled to left to complete a 6-0 advantage.
Four more runs in LETU's next turn to bat widened the gap. Roach had the early damage as she smacked a two-run homer to score Whitney Judd who started the frame with a single to left field.
The Crusaders put together their best offensive inning in the 5th. Down to their last out, Leifester recorded her first base knock of the spring with an infield hit to her own position at third. After a wild pitch moved her to second, Kotlar drove in the freshman and advanced to second on the throw. That was all UD mustered as Miller made the final out of the contest.
GAME TWO INFORMATION
Team Scores: University of Dallas (3), LeTourneau University (12) (F/5)
Team Records: Dallas (2-10), LeTourneau (5-12)
Pitcher of Record: W) Burdine (2-6) L) Galvan (1-3)
NOTABLE STATISTICS
- For the second time in a row, Dallas etched four hits.
- Three of the knocks came from Miller's bat as she was perfect at the dish.
- Miller stole two-of-three UD bases and scored a run.
- Lety Morales (Fontana, Calif.) swiped the other base and scored a run as well.
- Allie Driskill (Houston, Texas) dialed a pair of RBI and posted the other Crusader hit.
- Mackenzie Tano (Wylie, Texas) had the other runner driven in.
- Lauren Galvan (Bryan, Texas) threw four innings and allowed three runs. The freshman gave up nine hits and walked one.
- LeTourneau was led by the top of the order as Judd and Matulis went a combined 4-for-6, 3 RBI, and 3 runs scored. Matulis had a steal as well.
- Woodward managed the other multiple hit outing and clobbered a game-high four RBI.
- Ashley Burdine started and tossed four innings of shutout ball. She gave up two hits, walked one, and struck out two in the winning decision.
- The team's combined for eight errors in the game. Dallas had five.
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the second time this evening, Dallas was undone in the 3rd and 4th innings. Another five-run third led to trouble for the road team. After a leadoff walk, Galvan got a groundout, but Judd doubled to drive in the first run of the contest. A two-out error allowed the inning to continue and doubled the advantage for the Yellow Jackets 2-0. Barrick doubled to left for a pair of RBI and Woodard went down the left field line for an RBI of her own and capped the huge inning.
Overall, Letourneau managed four extra base hits including three doubles. All of the two-baggers occurred in the 3rd.
Judd had the other big knock which was a triple. The opponent's top of the order hitter split the gap to right center for an RBI. From there, the deficit expanded as six more runs crossed for the home team and opened a 12-0 difference.
For the second time in as many games, the Crusaders scored in their final at bat before being run-ruled. This time it as Dallas that benefitted from an error as Galvan started the inning by reaching on one. Back-to-back strikeouts left UD down to its final out, but pinch runner Morales made her steal and moved to third on a single up the middle by Miller. Miller stole second and Melanie Savala (Bryan, Texas) drew a free pass to load the bases. Driskill had her hit and then Tano drove in the final run on a fielder's choice. However, that was all the damage Dallas gained before a final out was made.
UP NEXT
Dallas opens Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) play on March 11-12 with four-game series at Trinity University. First pitch for the Saturday doubleheader is at 1 p.m.