Late Surge Not Enough as Lions Sweep Crusaders
IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas softball team lost their non-conference double header with SAGU on Tuesday. They fall to 5-22 on the year, with 13 conference games remaining on the schedule.
Game 1 - Dallas 0, SAGU 6
WP: Autumn Graham (13-5)
LP: Caitlynn Freyman (1-4)
For a while, it looked as though neither team would score in this game. Through four innings, both teams were scoreless and combined for just three hits as Caitlynn Freyman and Autumn Graham completely silenced the bats. The deadlock was finally broken in the fifth inning when the Lions put up five runs on four hits.
The Crusaders had no answer, as they managed just one more hit across the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. The Lions were also hitless in the sixth and seventh innings as the pitcher's duel continued, but they would plate one more run on an error and a wild pitch. It was a deceptively comfrotable win for SAGU in game one.
Game 2 - Dallas 6, SAGU 10
WP: Kassandra Vargas (4-5)
LP: Devinne Green (0-9)
SV: Autumn Graham (1)
This time it didn't take long to open the scoring, as SAGU took a 2-0 lead in the first. Macy Waddell got the Crusaders on the board after a wild sequence of events. Having successfully stolen second, the throw got away from the shortstop and rolled into center field, allowing Waddell to take third. The throw to third may have gotten there in time, but it sailed way wide, letting Waddell stroll home to score.
The Lions gradually built their lead over the next few innings, then nearly mercy ruled Dallas with three runs in the sixth to make it an 8-1 game, but left the bases loaded. The Crusaders bats woke up in the sixth as they answered back with a big inning of their own, scoring four runs on three hits. The Lionis widened the gap again with two runs in the top of the seventh, putting the game out of reach for the Crusaders. They had the bases loaded with no outs, but only plated one run in the inning.
Sara Hey had a career best game at the plate, going 4-4. Maddy Murphy and Jennifer Schmalz each had two base knocks in the game.
Up Next
Conference play resumes this weekend. The Crusaders will host Trinity for a three game series, starting at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.