Crusaders Rally with 5-Run 7th to Secure Split at Mississippi Univ. for Women
COLUMBUS, Miss. – The University of Dallas softball team rallied down three runs in its final at bat of the day by scoring five times to secure a split in non-conference action at Mississippi University for Women on Wednesday. Liz Cordova (Oklahoma City, Okla.) doubled to knot the game at three. Bri Torres (Cypress, Texas) drove in the go-ahead run and after an insurance run would hold the Owls off in the bottom of the seventh to give them just their third loss in 13 games this season.
The Crusaders were on the wrong side of a 1-0 shutout that went eight innings in the first contest. The sides had combined for five hits in the pitchers' duel through regulation, but the home team notched three hits in the frame to prevail. UD had dropped nine in a row before the dormant offense came to life to give it the first win of the month.
(Game 1 Information) (Final 8 innings)
Team scores: Dallas (0), Mississippi Univ. for Women (1)
Team Records: Dallas (3-9), Mississippi Univ. for Women (10-2)
Pitcher Records: W) Maddison Scoggin (5-1), L) Paige Rasmussen (2-5)
The best scoring chance in the game was the first inning for Dallas with two of its three hits all game garnered then. Mel Savala (Bryan, Texas) and Julie Duenas (Houston, Texas) had back-to-back singles. Duenas poked hers to right and the two hustled an extra 60 feet to put the pair of runners in scoring position with one out.
The next two batters popped out to second and grounded out to third, respectively, to extinguish the threat.
Duenas posted the remaining Dallas base knock in the third inning.
Otherwise, Maddison Scoggins retired the next 16 batters, as she scattered three hits and a second-inning walk for the lone traffic faced on the bases. The lefty struck out two as well.
Paige Rasmussen (El Campo, Texas) pitched brilliantly as well, going 7.2 innings and allowing five hits, two walks, and struck out two. The freshman sat down the first eight Owl hitters of the game and then seven more in a row after allowing a bunt single to Kandler Flora.
She did have the game's only stolen base to get to second but would be left there. A lead-off walk and two-out single occurred in the sixth for MUW, but nothing came of the threat.
Scoreless through seven, the Owls got two hits from Kristen Martin and Anna Lloyd to start things off. With the two in scoring position, Rasmussen registered two huge outs to keep the game alive, but Bailee Watts grabbed the game-winning single to shortstop for the game's only run.
This was the third extra innings game for the Crusaders this season. All have been decided in eight innings, with UD going 1-2. The home team batting prevailed in all three scenarios.
(Game 2 Information)
Team scores: Dallas (5), Mississippi Univ. for Women (3)
Team Records: Dallas (4-10), Mississippi Univ. for Women (10-3)
Pitcher Records: Karina Campo (2-5), L) Ciara Steward (3-1)
The Owls posted two runs in the first inning to take an early advantage. They started the game with three infield singles, including two on a bunt to highlight the big inning. Carolyn Wilkinson and Anna Kate McDaniel picked up the ribbies.
Emily Martin (San Jose, Calif.) made her first start of the season for Dallas and tossed a career-long four innings. The junior right-hander settled down to retire the next 12 batters that included perfect second, third, and fourth innings.
Mississippi University for Women added a third run in the sixth with Wilkinson collecting her second RBI on a groundout.
The Crusaders were held to three hits again through the first six innings and only one inning with runners reach beyond first base. That came in the fifth with Delao got on via a throwing error by the pitcher. Blyss Johnson (Wells, Texas) had laced a one-out single to center field and went to third while Delao moved the second on the miscue. However, a groundout kept the shutout intact.
Katelyn Lazarek (Seattle, Wash.) and Johnson drew walks between a single by Karina Campo (Georgetown, Texas) to spark the big seventh. Five consecutive batters reached base for the Crusaders, as Mackenzie Tano (Wylie, Texas) singled down the left field line with the bases loaded to get the guests on the board. Delao followed with just her second collegiate hit to right center that counted for a double.
The first out was recorded next, but then a fielder's choice allowed Torres to reach safely and Tano crossed home to make it 4-3. The second error of the game by the Owls allowed her to move to second. Duenas, who finished with a another two-hit performance on the day, would single up the middle to bring in Cordova.
Campo earned the win in the circle, as she tossed the remaining three innings. She allowed just one hit, which was a sixth-inning triple to Watts that eventually led to her scoring the lone run Campo allowed. The righty had a two-out walk in the seventh, but avoided further drama by getting her third groundout induced that frame and seventh of her nine types of outs.
Dallas finished with seven hits and played its third consecutive errorless game on the road trip.
MUW finished with four hits and just the one past the first inning. Donna Douglas was given the starting nod and twirled three innings of one-hit baseball. She also allowed a walk. Steward went 3.1 innings and was effective until that dramatic seventh.
Neither offense had a batter strikeout.
SOCIAL MEDIA
#UDCrusaders WIN!#UDallasSB scores 5 runs to earn split at MUW!
— UDallas Athletics (@UDallasSports) March 13, 2019
- Delao (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI)
- Duenas (2-4, RBI)
- Tano (1-3, RBI)
- Campo (W, 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R | 1-3)#WeAreUD #d3sb pic.twitter.com/K2cGTiekZP
UP NEXT
Dallas finishes up the lengthy road trip at Judson College (AL) on Thursday. First pitch of doubleheader is slated for 10 a.m. Inclement weather is in the forecast tomorrow.