Bats Quiet in Softball's Saturday Doubleheader Setback
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team was defeated in games one and two of a four-game home conference series to Schreiner University on Saturday. The Crusaders pitching held Schreiner to a combined five runs but were edged in eight innings in game one and blanked in the second matchup.
(Game 1 Information) (8 innings)
Team Scores: Schreiner (2), Dallas (1)
Team Records: Schreiner (5-14, 1-4 SCAC), Dallas (5-12, 0-5 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) Ortiz (2-3), L) Martin (0-1)
An error in the third inning gave Dallas a 1-0 advantage, as Madison Coutts (Tampa, Fla.) scored the go-ahead run at the time. Bri Torres (Cypress, Texas) batted the ball that was misplayed at second in that inning. She also notched UD's other hit of the game in the first inning.
The Mountaineers were held scoreless through four innings despite having at least one runner reach base each frame. This included back-to-back singles after two outs in the first inning. SU would even the game with a run in the fifth. Alyssa Hernandez walked, Gracie Bell singled up the middle, and Ashton Vasquez drove the run in with a single down the right field line to account for the first three runners that frame reaching.
That was all SU came up with as Bell was thrown out on a relay throw from Caitlynn Stevenson (Henderson, Nev.) to Coutts at home to keep the score knotted and gain the second out. Vasquez had stolen second base prior to Bell being nailed at the plate. Rachel Brown struck out to end the threat.
Coutts threw out two baserunners in this game while allowing the lone steal.
Paige Rasmussen (El Campo, Texas) delivered a great performance as she allowed the lone run on six scattered hits to go with two walks and four strikeouts, which matched a season-best (Feb. 17 vs. Hendrix). Two of those came in the sixth after the potential leading run reached second with one out. Rasmussen was lifted on a 1-1 count in the seventh to Gracie Bell. Emily Martin (San Jose, Calif.) came in relief and retired the next two batters to give UD a chance at walking off.
Dallas did not have a baserunner for the last five innings as the last 16 batters were sat down.
Martin was charged the tough loss, as she allowed a bases-loaded walk on a full count to give Marisa Hernandez the game-winning RBI. Carrie Fulton scored. Haley Henson (Chandler, Texas) entered with the bases still loaded, but got a groundout to keep the one-run deficit.
It was UD's fourth extra inning contest this season and second this past week. Both results this week were by a run.
Schreiner was led in the circle by Hannah Ortiz, who hurled eight innings without an earned run allowed. She walked none and struck out four.
(Game 2 Information)
Team Scores: Schreiner (3), Dallas (0)
Team Records: Schreiner (6-14, 2-4 SCAC), Dallas (5-13, 0-6 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) Timmerman (1-1), L) Campo (3-6), S) Culpepper (3)
It was another dormant game for the offense, as the Crusaders got blanked a third time in conference play and have been now held to five runs over six games. Putting up three hits, UD was able to hold the Mountaineers to a run through five innings until two more insurance runs came in the sixth.
Amanda Timmerman gave up all three hits in five innings of work and fanned five to earn her first season win. Kaylee Culpepper grabbed her third save with the last two innings thrown and only allowed a walk. She struck out two to give seven for Schreiner pitching.
Karina Campo (Georgetown, Texas) went seven innings in the setback. She allowed three runs on 11 hits, walked one, and struck out four to tie a season-most (Feb. 23 vs. Mount St. Joseph).
In the second inning, Vasquez singled through the left side to score Hernandez. Alyssa Maki tripled to right field for the big blow in the sixth with two outs. Rachel Brown dropped a single between short stop and left field next to score Maki. However, Dallas' Stevenson hustled to get the assist on a putout at second and end the inning.
Katelyn Lazarek (Seattle, Wash.) caught this game but did throw out her lone baserunner attempt on the afternoon. It gives UD catchers three in the twinbill and series so far.
Torres singled in her first at bat for the second time on the day but was erased by a lined out double play. Liz Cordova (Oklahoma City, Okla.) singled up the middle in the third with an out but did not advance further. Mackenzie Tano (Wylie, Texas) ripped the home team's lone extra base hit with a one-out double to left field in the fifth. Mel Savala (Bryan, Texas) drew both of the home team's walks. She was the only runner until Tano's double to reach scoring position, which came in the second inning after a sacrifice bunt.
Schreiner tallied 11 hits with Hernandez and Bell adding doubles to the Maki triple for the hits that were for extra bases.
UP NEXT
Dallas wraps up the Schreiner series on Sunday with a 12 p.m. first pitch for the doubleheader.