Softball sweeps Fall Ball Games over SAGU
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team swept a doubleheader, 5-4 and 5-3, with Southwestern Assemblies of God on Saturday in Fall Ball action. The Crusaders responded after surrendering four runs in game one of the seventh with a walk-off double by Julie Duenas (Houston, Texas) that scored Sydney Hayes (Purcellville, Va.). In the second contest, the Crusaders combined to score all their runs in the second and third inning and never trailed as Maggie Watts (Arcadia, La.) pitched around 10 hits in the complete game.
In game one, Dallas got on the board in the first inning with the help of a couple errors by the Lions. Caitlyn Stevenson (Henderson, Nev.) led off the frame by reaching and stole second. Hayes drove her in with a single up the middle. A throwing error by SAGU's third baseman that would have wrapped up the inning was off line and the shortstop was able to score the first-of-two runs that contest. Hayes finished 3-for-4 with a game-high in hits.
The Crusaders added a pair of runs in the fourth frame with Alicia Encisio (Corona, Calif.) and Liz Cordova (Oklahoma City, Okla.) platting them. Lauren Bryant (Bryan, Texas) had retired 11 batters in a row after escaping a bases loaded, no-out jam in the third inning. The visitors ended that span with a walk and hit in the sixth, but the two-out rally was snuffed on a lineout to first. The Lions left nine on base in the game.
Game two saw Dallas post five runs again. A three-spot in the second frame gave the home team early momentum. Similar to the earlier game, SAGU's defense helped as a couple miscues led to all runs being unearned that inning. Katelyn Lazarek (Seattle, Wash.), Tera Espinosa (Caldwell, Texas), and Mackenzie Tano (Wylie, Texas) all had RBI. Tano was the only Crusader with a multi-hit showing in the later game.
After the Lions responded with two runs in the top of the third, UD answered back with a pair in the bottom half of the inning. The bats compiled four singles in a row to start the Lions' rally. In the home part of the inning, Stevenson beat out an infield single and stole second. After hustling to third on a flyout, Lety Morales (Fontana, Calif.) was hit by a pitch and swiped second to put the two in scoring position. Cordova tripled to right and brought them home easily.
SAGU cut the margin to two with a run in the seventh, but unlike game one the Crusaders held firm and secured the victory in the top of the inning.
UP NEXT
Dallas concludes the fall ball portion of its season. Open the 2018 campaign on February 11th versus Hendrix College in a twinbill at home.