Crusaders Edged by Bulldogs in Saturday's SCAC Doubleheader

Crusaders Edged by Bulldogs in Saturday's SCAC Doubleheader

SEGUIN, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team competed stronger in Saturday's doubleheader at Texas Lutheran University but would come up short in both. After being outscored by a combined 15 runs in Friday's twinbill, the Crusaders fell short in a 2-0 pitchers' battle that had both sides with a pair of hits apiece. Dallas grabbed an early lead in the second contest, but could not hold it and were unable to tie things despite having a couple chances before the Bulldogs got some insurance runs later.


(Game 1 Information)

Team scores: Dallas (0), Texas Lutheran (2)

Team Records: Dallas (3-8, 0-3 SCAC), Texas Lutheran (9-4, 6-1 SCAC)

Pitcher Records: W) Kayla Oliveira (3-2), L) Paige Rasmussen (2-4)

Two runs in the first inning were all the Bulldogs required in game one. Kelly Jurden started the home half of the frame with a walk and stole second. She came in on a double by Casey Martin to give Texas Lutheran a 1-0 lead two batters in. Martin came on a groundout by Madisyn Cates for the other Bulldog run.

It was a pitchers' duel the rest of the way as both sides collected two hits apiece. Dallas had the lone error of the game in the first inning, but no harm came from it.

Paige Rasmussen (El Campo, Texas) went six innings and only allowed another hit to Martin for TLU's only baserunner the last five frames.

Her counterpart in the circle, Kayla Oliveira, was tougher managing to blank the Crusaders consecutive outings with a complete game. She didn't walk anyone and fanned five.

The Crusaders threatened in the second inning with the first two runners reaching via a hit by Bri Torres (Cypress, Texas) and walk by Madison Coutts (Tampa, Fla.). However, the road team was unable to push the runners any further. Oliveira retired 18 straight from that juncture.

Julie Duenas (Houston, Texas) tagged the other UD hit in the first inning, which extended her streak to 11 games.


(Game 2 Information)

Team scores: Dallas (3), Texas Lutheran (6)

Team Records: Dallas (3-9, 0-4 SCAC), Texas Lutheran (10-4, 7-1 SCAC)

Pitcher Records: Lauren Myers (1-0), L) Karina Campo (1-5)

Dallas claimed its first lead of the series with two runs coming in the first. Caitlyn Stevenson (Henderson, Nev.) led off with a single to left. She beat a play at second, which allowed Torres to reach safely on the fielder's choice. Two batters later, Mel Savala (Bryan, Texas) walked to load the bases. Katelyn Lazarek (Seattle, Wash.) ripped her first hit in just her third at bat of the season to center field to plate two.

The Bulldogs answered right back in the home half of the inning with two runs to even the scoreboard. Jurden and Martin got on base with singles. An RBI-groundout by Cates slashed the deficit in half, and Skylar Ouellette drilled a double to make it a new ballgame.

The Crusaders left a runner at second base in the next inning, and TLU went on top with Alyssa Cantu getting into a rundown that allowed Bathany Nevlud to swipe home. Cantu was able to get back to first safely but would be caught stealing to end the inning later at third. Madison Coutts (Tampa, Fla.) threw out two runners on the day with one coming per game.

The visitors got a chance to level the score in the third with Torres doubling to right field to start the inning. On the next out, she was advanced to third but a pop out and groundout left her there. In the fourth, Mackenzie Tano (Wylie, Texas) walked and would advance to second on a wild pitch, but pinch hitter Liz Cordova (Oklahoma City, Okla.) grounded out to third.

TLU extended the lead with two runs in the fifth, using a successful double steal on the first scoring play and then getting Cates her second RBI of the game for the other run. The Bulldogs tacked a run on in the sixth to push the score to 6-2.

Tano crossed home in the seventh as Stevenson reached on an error at second that would have been the final out of the game. Dallas could not extend the game any further as the Bulldogs completed the four-game sweep.

Jurden (2-3), Martin (2-4), and Ouellette (2-3) led the Bulldogs offense with multi-hit days and had half of the team's 12 overall hits.

Kelsi Stone allowed two runs on two hits in an inning of work in the start. Lauren Myers earned the win with a team-most 2.2 innings. She had the walk and hit, but Kassie Maddox got the groundout and twirled perfect fifth and sixth innings that included the lone strikeout of the game.

Dallas had four players notch a hit apiece and the defense did not commit an error for the first time in the series. Campo threw 5.2 innings and surrendered all six runs on 12 hits. She did not allow a walk.

Emily Martin (San Jose, Calif.) retired the last TLU batter to give her 1.1 scoreless innings in two games this weekend and on the campaign.

Duenas ended her 11-game hitting streak with a 0-for-3.


UP NEXT

Dallas plays four non-conference games this week to conclude a 12-game stretch of games away from home. The Crusaders are at Mississippi University for Women on Wednesday, March 13 and Judson College on Thursday, Mar. 14. Both doubleheaders are slated to begin at 2 p.m.