Crusaders Open Weekend Series with Pair of Setbacks to Centenary
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team was edged in Saturday's conference doubleheader to Centenary College. The Ladies broke a 2-2 tie with three unearned runs in the fourth inning to carry them to a game one victory. In the second game, the Crusaders allowed all three runs in the second inning and the bats were silent most of the game in a two-run setback. Centenary won its sixth straight to remain unbeaten in conference play, while UD is seeking its first win on the home stand this week.
(Game 1 Information)
Team Scores: Centenary (9), Dallas (2)
Team Records: Centenary (8-10, 5-0 SCAC), Dallas (5-18, 0-9 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) Amberlee Nix (3-5), L) Emily Martin (0-3)
Caitlyn Stevenson (Henderson, Nev.) highlighted the Crusaders offense with a perfect 4-for-4 game and a pair of doubles. She notched half of the home team's four hits.
A leadoff single by the shortstop got the Crusaders started in the first inning. Madison Coutts (Tampa, Fla.) dropped a sacrifice bunt and Liz Cordova (Oklahoma City, Okla.) drove in Stevenson with a single through the left side.
That was the lone lead for Dallas in either game, as the Ladies went on top in the third frame with two runs.
Julie Duenas (Houston, Texas) singled up the middle to drive in Stevenson in the home half of the inning to make it a new ballgame. Cordova and Duenas each went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
The Ladies scored the next seven runs, as an error with two outs kept the fourth going. Erin Lewis singled to center field for the two go-ahead runs, and Wendy Gillet added a third run on her second RBI of the game.
Lewis smacked a two-run homer in the sixth, and then two more runs by Centenary in the seventh wrapped the scoring up.
Margeaux Smith also notched a perfect day at the plate with four hits (2 doubles) in as many at bats, and scored a game-high three runs. Lewis batted in four and scored twice to go with a 3-for-4. Gillet (3-4) and Cassie Gonzalez (2-4) added multi-hit games.
Emily Martin (San Jose, Calif.) was saddled with the loss after allowing five runs (two earned) on nine hits in 3.2 innings. She walked one and struck out one. Maggie Watts (Arcadia, La.) fanned a season-high four batters in 3.1 innings of relief.
Amberlee Nix gave up two runs on eight hits while walking none in a complete game for the Ladies.
(Game 2 Information)
Team Scores: Centenary (3), Dallas (1)
Team Records: Centenary (9-10, 6-0 SCAC), Dallas (5-19, 0-10 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) Hannah Scoggin, L) Haley Henson (0-1)
Centenary started the second inning with a trio of singles to load the bases. Sydney Hurley scored as the runners all ran on a pitch that would end up bouncing in front of home to break the scoreless game. A successful suicide squeeze bunt was executed by Nichole Gauntt to plate Gonzales for the second run. Smith then dropped down a bunt to third that plated Haley Campbell.
That was all the run support the Ladies needed, as Dallas was held to a pair of hits through the first four innings.
Brianna Hale (Austin, Texas) scored Katelyn Lazarek (Seattle, Wash.) on a sacrifice fly to center in the fifth to break the shutout bid. Lazarek had doubled to lead off the inning, and Mackenzie Tano (Wylie, Texas) singled to center. After a sacrifice bunt to move the runners, Hale notched the ribbie.
The Ladies had two hits and left three on base in the seventh, but interference called on Centenary's Campbell going from second to third prevented any further runs.
Blyss Johnson (Wells, Texas) singled to lead off the last inning, but a strikeout and double play concluded the game.
Stevenson recorded a hit to give her a four-game streak and base knock in five of the last six games on this home stretch. Duenas added the other base knock.
Centenary was held to seven hits on the day, with Campbell and Smith posting a 2-for-3 each. Hannah Scoggin earned the win with a complete game, as she struck out five and did not walk anyone.
Haley Henson (Chandler, Texas) made her first career start. She threw well in the first, but was lifted after retiring one in that big second inning. Lindsay Devlin (Leander, Texas) hurled her best outing with 5.2 innings, three hits, no runs, two walks, and one strikeout.
UP NEXT
Dallas closes the weekend series on Sunday with a 12 p.m. start time again for the doubleheader.