Crusaders Snatch Walk-off Win on Senior Day
IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas softball team closed out its home regular season slate on Sunday with a doubleheader versus Schreiner University. After the Mountaineers completed the three-game conference sweep with their second run-rule in a row, Dallas claimed the final game in eight innings after scoring all its runs from the sixth inning on.
(Game 1 Information) (F/5)
Team Scores: Schreiner (13), Dallas (2)
Team Records: Schreiner (15-20, 10-7 SCAC), Dallas (3-18, 2-16 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) Wodtke (7-7), L) Martin (1-3)
The Mountaineers picked up the offense where they left off from game two breaking out with all 13 runs over the first three innings, including a seven-run second. After back-to-back singles, Bri Wodtke homered on a ball that hugged the left field line and soared fair. The next two hits for SU were doubles by Kaylee Culpepper and Kennedy Moody to cap the four-run frame.
In the next inning, Schreiner added seven runs thanks to eight hits, which included another three-run shot to left field by Moody.
UD's offense mustered four hits all game and three came in the third. Annabel Anderson ripped her fourth home run of the season just to the left of the highest point at center field. Caitlyn Stevenson (Henderson, Nev.) knocked in Madison Coutts (Tampa, Fla.) later in the frame. Coutts accounted for the other UD hit and was 2-for-3.
Emily Martin (San Jose, Calif.) got the start and went three innings. Alissa Dutton (Houston, Texas) threw two perfect innings and recorded a strikeout.
Schreiner totaled 16 hits with 11 different players finding one in that column. Eight different players scored. Wodtke got the win with three innings of work. She struck out four and worked around four hits, two runs (one earned), and two walks. Culpepper faced the minimum six batters to complete the game.
(Game 2 Information) (F/8)
Team Scores: Schreiner (3), Dallas (4)
Team Records: Schreiner (15-20), Dallas (4-18)
Pitcher Records: W) Watts (2-10), L) Culpepper (5-4)
Like the first game of the series this was a low scoring game that saw the Mountaineers tally a run in the first and sixth innings. The Mountaineers started with Malone Solis reaching on a fielding error. She moved to second on a ground out and then stole third and came home on a passed ball. Schreiner added two more hits, but left them on base.
Dallas pitched its other senior on Senior Day with Maggie Watts (Arcadia, La.). She was locked most of the afternoon, escaping two runners in scoring position in the second and third innings. This included a one-out jam in the second where she struck out Analysa Vasquez looking. Both runs that Watts allowed through the first six innings were unearned. Hernandez grounded out for an RBI that plated Elicia Gonzales.
The Crusaders offense remained dormant most of the game, until Coutts doubled to right center in the home half of the sixth. Stevenson followed with a ball in the same area and hustled for a triple. Karina Campo (Georgetown, Texas) notched the team's third straight hit with a ball that went up the middle and UD tied things up at 2. With two outs, Devinne Green (Riverside, Calif.) singled through the right side to put Liz Cordova (Oklahoma City, Okla.) across home plate for the go-ahead run. Martin had also singled two batters prior to extent the inning and was the team's fifth hit that game-changing frame.
The Mountaineers manufactured a run in the next inning as Melanie Castilla singled up the middle. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Culpepper laced a hit to left, but the Crusaders got the ball in to keep runners on the corner. A sacrifice fly out to center scored Moody, but Cordova did make a difficult catch sliding to her left and making the grab to keep a speedy pinch runner in Annie Wallace from moving further for more potential damage.
In the home seventh, the top of Dallas' batting order was due up but only Stevenson got on with a single to center field. Watts, who finished with a season-long eight innings would have a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
Cordova singled to left and stole second. Martin walked. After a double play at third and first left Martin on second, it was the freshman Green that came through a second at bat in a row with a single to shallow center field. Martin made a strong turn around third and scored without the Mountaineer being able to come up with an attempt at a throw.
UD outhit the Mountaineers 12-10 which was highlighted by a perfect 4-for-4 by Stevenson in her seventh game back. Green added a 3-for-4 and Coutts had another multiple hit game. She has reached safely in seven straight games. Martin had the team's only walk in the winning inning. Watts scattered 10 hits and allowed one earned run while walking none and striking out three.
Culpepper was given the loss in 7.2 innings. She fanned six Crusaders. The number three hitter also went 3-for-4 to lead the offense. Moody and Ashley Schaub had multi-hit games, too. Moody logged the only hit for extra-bases with a double.
After the game, five seniors were recognized: Cordova, Karly Girod (Fort Worth, Texas), Martin, Stevenson, and Watts.
Dallas finishes the regular season with a last conference series at Trinity University on April 24-25.