Softball drops both games of road doubleheader versus Huston-Tillotson University to begin season

AUSTIN, Texas - The University of Dallas softball team (0-2) fell on Sunday afternoon in both games of a double-header versus Huston-Tillotson University. Dallas was defeated in Game 1, 8-2, while they lost Game 2, 10-5, to the Rams.

Game 1: Dallas 2, Huston-Tillotson 8: Boxscore

Jessica Mollner (St. Paul, Minn./Convent of the Visitation School) recieved starting pitcher honors for coach Conner's squad in Game 1. The junior pitched four innings, allowing 7 runs (5 earned) on 8 hits in addition to striking out 2 and walking 4 batters. In the 5th inning, Mollner swapped positions with Cheryl Hinze (Houston, Texas/Langham Creek H.S.), whom initially was playing 2nd base. Hinze finished the game on the mound for the Lady Crusaders, going two innings, allowing an earned run and a walk.   

The Lady Crusaders got on the scoreboard in the 4th inning, as Hinze scored when senior catcher Meghan Frost (Bandera, Texas/Northshore H.S.) reached on an error. Of note, sophomore Christina Jeffrey (Tomball, Texas/Concordia Lutheran) doubled in the inning.

Dallas tacked on their final run, in the 6th inning, as sophomore shortstop Brittany Castro (Houston, Texas/Langham Creek H.S.) stole home.

Game 2: Dallas 5, Huston-Tillotson 10: Boxscore

In the back half of the double headar, Hinze started at pitcher. In her lone inning of work before getting replaced by Mollner, she was pegged for five runs (one earned), in walking three batters and allowing one hit. In the 2nd inning, Mollner took the mound and stayed there for Dallas, the remainder of the game after Hinze took over at 2nd base. Mollner in five innings of work, allowed 5 runs (3 earned) on seven hits and three walks. She struck out two of the Lady Rams.  

Huston-Tillotson hung a five spot on Dallas in the 1st inning, which really cost the Lady Crusaders in the five run defeat.

Jeffrey turned in a noteworthy performance from the plate, once again, for Dallas. In four at-bats, she scored a run and recorded an RBI, off of two hits. For the weekend, she led the team with a .571 (4-of-7) batting average.

Up next, the Lady Crusaders will host their own round robin tournament, the Wyndham Las Colinas Classic, beginning Friday, Feb. 25. Dallas will play Nebraska Wesleyan University at 6:00 p.m. on Friday.