Softball struggles in Wyndham Las Colinas Classic, drops four games for the tournament
IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas softball team (0-6) dropped all four of their games as the host team in the Wyndham Las Colinas Classic, Friday, Feb. 25 - Sunday, Feb. 27. On Friday, the Lady Crusaders were defeated by Nebraska Wesleyan University, 12-1. Dallas played two games on Saturday, and were downed by the University of the Ozarks, 12-4, and by Cornell College, 17-0. To wrap of their tournament, the Lady Crusaders suffered their fourth loss of the weekend, losing to Hendrix College, 10-1.
Game 1: Dallas 1, Nebraska Wesleyan 12 Boxscore
The Lady Crusaders were able to get a run off of Nebraska Wesleyan in a tough loss with a final score of 12-1. Offensively, junior Jessica Mollner (St. Paul, Minn./Convent of the Visitation School) touched homeplate on a single by senior Cheryl Hinze (Houston, TX/Langham Creek H.S.) in the 3rd inning.
Defensively, Dallas was able to get three assists and two strikeouts against the Prairie Wolves. However, the defense couldn't stop the strong bats of Nebraska Wesleyan, ending the game in 5 innings.
Game 2: Dallas 4, University of the Ozarks 12 Boxscore
Dallas was able to score four runs on three hits, but the Lady Crusaders fell in defeat on Saturday, 12-4, to the University of Ozarks (Ark.). At the plate, Dallas tallied three singles, coming from shortstop Brittany Castro (Houston, Texas/Langham Creek H.S.), catcher Christina Jeffrey (Tomball, Texas/Concordia Lutheran), and third baseman Meredith Noe (Sugar Land, Texas/St. Agnes Academy), all leading to runs for the Crusaders.
Defensively, the squad totaled seven assists in the game, with four coming from Castro. Also, Mollner totalled three strikeouts in 5 innings of work.
Game 3: Dallas 0, Cornell 17 Boxscore
In the third game of the tournament, Dallas fought hard, but suffered defeat at the Cornell College Rams. The Lady Crusaders started out short on numbers, having just enough players to fill their positions.
Despite the fact the squad only had nine players, total, they kept Cornell to one run for the first two innings -- Jessica Mollner took the mound as starting pitcher. With aspirations of scoring, Hinze stole second base in the first inning, but ended up being stranded, as her teammates couldn't bring her in.
Cornell pulled far ahead in the 4th inning with two runs in the 3rd inning, 10 runs in the 4th, and 4 in the 5th inning.
Game 4: Dallas 1, Hendrix 10 Boxscore
In their final game of the tournament, The Lady Crusaders took on the Hendrix Warriors. Jessica Mollner took the mound first again this game, pitching to Cheryl Hinze. In the first inning, Dallas came close to a quick score by getting Mollner (walk), Hinze (hit by pitch), and Mallori Westbrook on base. Mollner was tagged out at home, leaving the Lady Crusaders eager to get out onto the field.
In the fifth inning, Maggie Boylan singled, stole second, and reached third on an error. Dallas finally got onto the board in the 5th inning when Boylan scored on a ground-out hit by Mollner.
The Lady Crusaders fought hard all weekend to pull out a game despite their lack of numbers, and they're hoping to get back on the field and get a win.
Dallas will follow up the Wyndham Las Colinas Classic with a home doubleheader against visiting Briar Cliff University on Wednesday, March 2, at 5:00 p.m.