Cervantes went 3-for-4 and scored three runs. She knocked the go-head runs at the time in the 5th for the Crusaders.
Cervantes went 3-for-4 and scored three runs. She knocked the go-head runs at the time in the 5th for the Crusaders.

Softball responds to Early Deficit; Schreiner takes SCAC Tournament Win after 5-run Sixth

SEGUIN, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team dropped the first game of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) to fourth-seeded Schreiner University, 10-7, on the campus of Texas Lutheran University Friday. After scoring seven-of-nine runs to erase an early deficit, the fifth-seeded Crusaders allowed five runs in the sixth to fall in the tournament opener. Dallas will look to win tomorrow in its first elimination game of a double elimination format.

GAME INFORMATION

Team Scores: University of Dallas (7), Schreiner University (10)

Team Records: Dallas (14-27), Schreiner (22-19)

Pitcher Records: W) Ortiz (13-7), L) Galvan (9-12)

NOTABLE STATISTICS

- Stephanie Cervantes (Temecula, Calif.) and Jade Miller (Plano, Texas) had game-highs in hits and each went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI.

- Miller tripled for the fourth time this season and extended her hitting streak to 11 games. That was UD's one extra base hit, and the team recorded 11 hits. Dallas has achieved double-digits in hits in past six-of-seven contests.

- Cervantes scored a career-high three runs.

- Melanie Savala (Bryan, Texas) added the team's other multi-hit performance with two.

- Four of the top five hitters in the Crusaders' batting lineup combined to score all the team's runs.

- The Crusaders eclipsed 100 stolen bases on the campaign with seven to match the second highest of the season. The other game was also against Schreiner in game four of a series in Irving on March 26.

- Savala and Cervantes each had two steals with Savala tying second on the team with 17. Miller swiped number 30 on the spring.

- Lauren Galvan (Bryan, Texas) started and went 5.2 innings. She allowed 10 runs (8 earned) on nine hits while walking five and striking out one.

- Schreiner was led by Alyssa Maki (2-2) and Gabriella Acuna (2-3) on the team's multi-hit performances. The duo combined for five runs scored with Acuna being plated three times to match a game-high.

- Acuna posted extra base hits for both her hits with a double and home run. Kaylee Atchley and Maki contributed doubles and Nichole Schoenherr tripled to complete the team's five extra base hits.

- The Mountaineers were also effective on the bases taking five steals in six chances.

- Hannah Ortiz earned the win in relief with 2.2 innings. She allowed a hit and walk to go with two strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Schreiner started the game with three runs in its first turn to bat. Samantha Cordon grounded out for an RBI to break the scoreless game. It was the second out, but Acuna doubled to right center for another run. She rounded out the runs in the frame and scored after advancing on a passed ball and raced home on a double steal.

The Crusaders responded by scoring runs over the next four innings. Baylee Leifester (Belton, Texas) and Miller picked up a RBI in the second and third innings, respectively.

That cut the deficit to a run, but the Mountaineers countered with a run in the bottom of the third on an Acuna homer to left field.

Dallas' Christina Torre (Novato, Calif.) punched an RBI-single in the fourth inning to close the gap back to a run again. The opposition answered back with a Maki double to left center that scored Lindsey Martinez, who had reached on an error earlier.

The momentum shifted in the fifth for the Crusaders, as they captured their first lead of the game. It was four runs for the Navy and White that started with a Tano walk and Miller RBI-triple. Savala reached on an infield single to the pitcher and stole second to get two runners in scoring position for Cervantes. The catcher ripped a single to center field that drove both runs in and lifted the lower seed to a 6-5 advantage. Leifester etched her second RBI of the game on another groundout to extend the lead to 7-5.

It was a five-run inning for the Mountaineers that turned the tide for good in the sixth. Four hits highlighted the game-changing frame for SU with the final two coming on back-to-back extra base hits. With the score knotted at seven, Atchley clubbed a two-out double to left that plated the two go-ahead runs. Schoenherr followed with her three-bagger to cap the comeback.

Allie Driskill (Houston, Texas) earned a leadoff walk in the seventh and advanced on a wild pitch to the next batter, but that was it for UD.

UP NEXT

Dallas will seek to avoid elimination tomorrow in the second game on Saturday. First pitch between the Crusaders and the sixth seed Trinity University is scheduled around 12 p.m. These teams met in the Regular season on Mar. 11-12 in San Antonio with Dallas winning the series 3-1.