Crusaders Sweep Double-Header with Southwestern

IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas won their conference opener with Southwestern University on Saturday afternoon.  They took both games of the double-header, winning game one 2-0 and game two 5-4.

Game 1 - Dallas 2, Southwestern 0

WP: Karina Campo (2-4)

LP: Taylor McKenzie (0-2)

Game one was a pitcher's duel that could have easily gone either way.  In such a tight game, fine margins are everything, and one misstep by the Pirates in the first inning would bring in what was ultimately the deciding run of the contest.  After reaching first safely on an error herself, Madison Coutts was able to score from first on a two-out hit and run single by Maddy Murphy.  The Pirates right fielder couldn't field the ball cleanly, and Coutts came all the way around for the first run of the game.

Karina Campo did a stellar job in the circle for the Crusaders.  Though she wasn't able to keep the Pirates from getting on base, she expertly got herself out of jams to keep the game scoreless.  Across the second, third, and fourth innings, she stranded seven Pirates baserunners, getting two outs with the bases loaded in the fourth.  Dallas added one more run in the fourth, and Campo set down eight of her last nine batters in order for the complete game shutout.

Hits were hard to come by for both teams, but Maddy Murphy went 3-3 in game one.

Game 2 - Dallas 5, Southwestern 4

WP: Caitlynn Freyman (1-0)

LP: Madison Vela (0-1)

Southwestern had the chance to strike first, but stranded two runners in the top of the first.  The Crusaders would jump out to an early lead instead courtesy of a two RBI single by Maddy Murphy.  The Pirates slowly, but surely fought their way back into the game, eventually taking the lead in the fourth on a two-out error.  Dallas reclaimed the lead in the fifth, thanks to a bases-loaded walk by Karina Campo and an RBI single by Lizette Sosa.

The Pirates tied it up with a two-out RBI double in the top of sixth, but the Crusaders took the lead for good with an RBI single by Emily Luna in the bottom half of the inning.  Southwestern was just 90 feet from tying the game in the seventh, with the go-ahead run standing on second, but Caitlynn Freyman got the next two batters ot get out of the jam and secure the win. 

The Crusaders have already picked up the series win at this point.  It's the first Division III double header they have won since taking two from Austin College in 2018.  It's also the first time the Crusaders have taken two games from Southwestern in over a decade.

The series continues tomorrow, as the Crusaders eye the sweep.  There will be one game tomorrow, with first pitch set for 12:00 p.m.