Softball Wins First Game Over Husson University, Drops Second

UD Softball hosted the Husson University Eagles from Bangor, ME for a doubleheader this evening with the teams playing evenly throughout the series.  UD prevailed in the opening game 3-1 before falling in the tight fought second game, 4-1.

Dallas opened up the series with a dramatic 3-1 win in the first game.  Despite giving up a run in the top of the first, Dallas came back to score 3 unanswered runs to back a dominant performance by sophomore pitcher Liana Reveles (Austin, TX/James Bowie H.S.).  Reveles pitched a complete game allowing no earned runs on 3 hits while striking out 7 for win number 8.  Freshman infielder Sandra Gallegos' (Houston, TX/Lamar H.S.) sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third turned out to be all UD needed for the home win.  Freshman infielder Brittany Castro (Houston, TX/Langham Creek H.S), who walked earlier in the inning, scored on the sacrifice fly to tie the game, and sophomore outfielder Jessica Mollner (St. Paul, MN/St. Andrew's Episcopal School), who had singled in the inning, used her speed to advance to third and force a throw that backfired for the Eagles.  Mollner scored on the high throw to third by the Husson catcher, and Dallas grabbed the 2-1 lead.  Senior outfielder Amber Adams (Dallas, TX/Dallas Christian Academy) then drove in junior outfielder Jesse Allen (Madison, MS/St. Andrew's Episcopal) for the much needed insurance run and the 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth.  Allen went 2-2 with a double, a run, and a steal, Castro and Mollner also scored, and Adams and Gallegos provided the RBI for UD.  

In the second game 2 costly errors in the top of the seventh proved the downfall for the Dallas women's softball team in the grudge match as the Eagles went on to break the 1-1 tie with 3 unearned runs.  Dallas responded with runners on second and third in the bottom frame but could not push any more runs across. One run by each team in the second inning had been the only runs scored by either team up to the pivotal seventh.  Senior pitcher Whitney Thomas (Fort Worth, TX/Nolan Catholic) also hurled seven solid innings for a complete game allowing only 1 earned run while striking out 7. Offensively, junior infielder Cheryl Hinze (Houston, TX/Langham Creek H.S.) went 2 for 2 at the plate with a double and a walk.  Freshman infielder Sandra Gallegos (Houston, TX, Lamar H.S.) scored the team's lone run in addition to a hit.

The 12-9 Crusaders will host UT-Dallas this Sunday, March 21, in a doubleheader at 12:00pm and 2:00pm.