Crusaders Pick Up First Win vs Simpson

IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas softball team split their double-header with Simpson College this afternoon.  They get their first win of the season to improve to a 1-9 record on the year.

Game 1 - Dallas 6, Simpson 3

WP: Karina Campo (1-4)

LP: Brooke Tucker (0-1)

Both teams managed to get runners in scoring position in the first two innings, but neither one would strike just yet.  The Storm would get on the board first with an RBI single by Maddie Luderman in the top of the third.  But Dallas struck big in the bottom half of the inning, putting up four runs on five hits to take the lead.  The teams would trade blows in the later innings, but it could have easily swung in either direction.

The Crusaders had runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth, but couldn't keep the rally going after already scoring a run.  Having pulled one run back, Simpson had the bases loaded with one out in the sixth, but Karina Campo got out of the jam and avoided a potential big inning by getting the next two batters to pop-out.  Dallas got the run back in the bottom half and could have had more, but left two runners on.  Simpson scored one in the seventh on a two-out RBI single, but Devinne Greene got the final out to secure the Crusaders' first win of the season.

Annabel Anderson and Brenna Kelly each came up big for the Crusaders, driving in two runs on two hits each.  Karina Campo went six innings in the circle, giving up two runs on six hits and striking out two in her first win of the season.

Game 2 - Dallas 5, Simpson 8

WP: Randie Richmond (1-0)

LP: Devinne Greene (0-5)

Dallas found themselves in a hole early in game two, as the Storm jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after a three-run homer by Maddie Luderman.  But they found their way back into the game thanks to RBI's by Karina Campo in the second and Brenna Kelly in the third, making it a 5-3 game after three.  Simpson's bats weren't done, however, as they put up three runs on three hits in the fourth to take an 8-5 lead.

Caitlyn Freeman came in to pitch for the Crusaders in the fifth and threw three brilliant innings of relief to keep the Crusaders in the game.  She allowed just one baserunner on a walk, striking out along the way.  Though they went down in order in the fifth and sixth, Dallas still had some fight in them.  A hit batter, an RBI triple by Jennifer Schmalz, and an RBI single my Madison Coutts sparked a late rally for the Crusaders.  They were helped even further along on an error by the shortstop, but the rally ended with two hard hit balls that went right to the third baseman who got the force out at third both times, stopping a would-be big inning and stranding two baserunners to end the game.

Up Next

The Crusaders have their first conference matchup this weekend with Southwestern.  They will host the Pirates for a pair this Saturday at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.