Softball falls to Pirates in Friday's SCAC Tournament Game
GEORGETOWN, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team dropped a 5-2 decision to Southwestern University on Friday in the first round of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Tournament. No. 6 Seed Dallas struck for both runs in the first inning, but could not hold off the No. 3 Seed and host Southwestern in the second matchup of the day.
The Pirates cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the first, and then grabbed the lead for good with a pair of runs in the fourth. Taylor Curtis homered to knot the game at 2, and then Katelyn Francis drove in the go-ahead RBI on a single later that frame.
(Game Information)
Team Scores: Dallas (2), Southwestern (5)
Team Records: Dallas (8-31), Southwestern (21-15)
Pitcher Records: W) Longuet (5-4), L) Watts (5-14)
The Crusaders started off strong offensively with four of the first six batters reaching via a hit. With two runners in scoring position, Liz Cordova (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Mel Savala (Bryan, Texas) laced back-to-back singles that plated a run apiece. That chased Pirates starter Bailey Meyer through just two outs in the game.
Her replacement Lindsey Longuet got out of the inning without any further damage. She also faced trouble in the top of the second, as UD used a walk and consecutive singles to load the bases after the first out had been retired. The Crusaders were unable to widen the gap, as the next two balls in play did not leave the infield.
Dallas recorded eight hits in the ballgame, but were limited to just one in the fourth and sixth after the strong start.
Trailing by a run through three and a half innings, Curtis led off the home fourth with a solo blast over center field. The Pirates struck for three more hits that inning, with Francis singling through the right side to score Andrea Hern to make it 3-2.
Two insurance runs in the sixth extended the lead for Southwestern. A double by Kaitlynn Copher capped the offense with her second RBI of the game. She was a perfect 4-for-4, while Grace Phelps (3-4) and Francis (3-3) also had multiple hit games.
Overall, the Pirates compiled 14 hits. The homer and double were the only two extra-base knocks by either side.
Enciso – who was named All-SCAC 2nd Team – kept her hot hitting going with a 3-for-4 performance. This game marks consecutive three-hit games and gives the top hitter in the lineup six (4 vs. SCAC foes) this spring.
Caitlyn Stevenson (Henderson, Nev.) and Julie Duenas (Houston, Texas) each scored a run in that first inning. Six of the top seven hitters in the batting lineup notched a hit. Haley Golden (Lake Dallas, Texas) reached base twice via a hit and one of the team's two walks.
Maggie Watts (Arcadia, La.) took the loss with 14 hits and five runs allowed in six innings. She walked two.
Longuet settled into a groove to earn the win with the last 6.1 innings pitched. She worked around two hits and a walk in the final five frames. She picked up three strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Dallas will try to avoid elimination on Saturday versus the No. 4 Seed Centenary College. First pitch is at 10 a.m. These teams met two weeks ago in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Crusaders were swept all four games.