Big Innings By Hendrix Down the Crusaders
Irving, TX - The University of Dallas softball team lost both games of a two game series against Hendrix College on Saturday. After the two teams played mostly even through the first five innings of game one, Hendrix broke the game open with a five run rally in the top of the sixth to eventually win 11-6. In game two, Dallas jumped ahead early scoring runs in the first and second innings, but Hendrix stormed back with a decisive six-run fourth inning on their way to a 12-7 victory.
(Game 1 Information F)
Team Scores: Hendrix (11) Dallas (6)
Team Records: Hendrix (1-0) Dallas (0-3)
Pitcher Records: W) Skyler Teague (1-0), L) Devinne Greene (0-2)
Hendrix got on the board first with a pair of runs in the second inning. Shortstop Grace Bryant leadoff the inning reaching base safely on an error, then reached third on a sacrifice by designated player Hailey Johnston. On the next play, UD third baseman Trinity Aguero threw out Bryant at the plate on the fielder's choice by pitcher Kendyl Patton. After first baseman Tori Veith walked, right fielder Betty Wolfe tripled to center field to score both runners.
Dallas answered for two in the bottom of the inning, as shortstop Brenna Kelly singled and designated player Caitlynn Freyman was hit by a pitch with one out. After pitcher Devinne Green struckout, first baseman Maddy Murphy singled to deep left center scoring Kelly and Freyman.
In the top of the third, the Warriors retook the lead as Grace Bryant singled to center to score catcher Kinsey Bryant with two outs.
In the top of the fourth, Hendrix added another one as Patton opened the inning with a triple to right center. Patton then scored as Veith reached first on an error by Kelly.
In the bottom of the inning, Dallas got one back as right fielder Annabel Anderson and Kelly led off the inning with back-to-back hits. After pinch runner Macy Waddell was called out at third on an unsuccessful double steal, Kelly advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a RBI groundout by Freyman.
In the top of the fifth, Grace Bryant struck again for the Warriors as she homered to deep left field. Two batters later, Patton doubled to right center to drive in Johnson from first for a 6-3 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Murphy and second baseman Lizette Sosa started the inning with consecutive singles. Center fielder Sara Hey advanced Sosa and pinch runner Brianna Neisen on a sacrifice bunt, and then catcher Madison Coutts singled in Neisen on a line drive to right. Left fielder Brianna Hale then singled to center to plate Sosa and bring the score to 6-5.
In the top of the sixth, second baseman Savannah Shaw doubled to left. Kinsey Bryant drove in Shaw on an RBI double to left center, and then scored on a groundout by third baseman Aubrey Lee. After Grace Bryant doubled and Johnson grounded out to third, advancing Bryant, Patton was hit by a pitch. Bryant then stole home as Patton stole second, and then pinch hitter Peyton Nance RBI doubled to right center followed by Wolfe hitting an RBI double to left center for an 11-5 lead.
Dallas scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the inning. UD loaded the bases with one out as Freyman singled, pitcher Karina Campo singled, and Murphy reached safely on a fielder's choice as the defense failed to get Campo at second. Pinch hitter Jennifer Schmalz hit an RBI groundout to second to send in Freyman and bring the game to 11-6.
(Game 2 Information F)
Team Scores: Hendrix (12) Dallas (7)
Team Records: Hendrix (2-0) Dallas (0-4)
Pitcher Records: W) Skyler Teague (2-0), L) Karina Campo (0-2)
In game two, the Crusaders got on the board in the first inning. Schmalz led off with a triple to right center, but was thrown out at home attempting to score on a grounder by Sosa. Hale then singled to left and both runners advanced on an error by left fielder Patton. Freyman then grounded out, and with two outs Murphy singled to center to drive in both runners for a 2-0 UD lead.
Dallas tacked on another in the bottom of the second, as with two outs Schmalz doubled to right center to send home Aguero.
In the top of the third, Hendrix scored three to tie as Wolfe started the inning with a double to center. Two batters later, Johnston grounded out to second to score Wolfe. Kinsey Bryant then placed a squeeze bunt as center fielder Avery Colclaser scored from third just ahead of the tag. After Lee doubled, Grace Bryant singled in another run to tie the game at 3-3.
Hendrix stormed ahead in the fourth starting the inning with four consecutive hits. Patton singled, then scored on a Veith double. Wolfe single, and both runners scored on a Colclaser triple to right. Johnston drove in Colclaser on an RBI groundout. Then after a walk and a groundout, Grace Bryant and Shaw each drove in a run on a double and a single for a 9-3 Hendrix lead.
The final runs of the game were scored in the sixth inning, as Hendrix put up three runs behind a two RBI single by Veith and an RBI single by Wolfe.
In the bottom of the inning, Dallas got three straight hits off of singles by Kelly and Emily Luna and an RBI double by Schmalz. Sosa put down a sac bunt to score Kelly, and then Hale singled through the right side to score Luna. Hale then stole second and scored on a single by Freyman to bring the game to 12-7.
The two teams hit a total of 19 extra base hits in the two games, 12 in game one and seven in game two.
For Hendrix, the Bryants combined to go 10-16 with six extra-base hits, six runs batted in, and six runs scored. Grace Bryant repeated herself going 3-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored in both games, along with adding two doubles, a homerun, and a stolen base for the day.
For Dallas, Murphy went 3-7 with three RBIs in the two games. Hale was 4-8 with two RBIs, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. In game two, Schmalz went 3-4 with two doubles, a triple, two RBIs, and a run scored.
With the losses UD drops to 0-4 (0-0) while Hendrix opens their season 2-0 (0-0). Dallas continues their season up in Memphis, Tenn. next weekend as the Crusaders travel for two games each against Webster University and Rhodes College on Saturday and Sunday Feb 19 and 20. Game Times will be at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM on Saturday and 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM on Sunday. All times are Central.