Softball upends Steers, captures both games of doubleheader for season sweep of Texas College
IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas softball team (8-18) completed the season sweep over Texas College on Wednesday evening at Crusader Field. The Lady Crusader offense was out in full force, as Dallas took Game 1, 9-2, and Game 2, 18-5.
After the home-and-home doubleheaders with Texas College, Dallas now boasts a season-high four game winning streak.
Game 1: Dallas 9, Texas College 2 (F/7) Boxscore
Junior starting pitcher Jessica Mollner (St. Paul, Minn./Convent of the Visitation School) was stellar on the mound in Game 1 for head coach Amber Conner's squad. In a complete game seven-inning effort, Mollner allowed two earned runs on four hits and five walks, while striking out two batters.
On the offensive side of things, Mollner helped her own cause by scoring in the 1st inning. After initially walking, she stole second base for her team-leading 17th of the season, and eventually headed home on an error by the center fielder.
After Texas College knotted the score, 1-1, in the 5th inning, the Lady Crusaders broke the contest open in the bottom of the 5th, scoring four runs.
A repeat of the 5th inning occurred in the 6th inning, scoring wise, as Dallas countered Texas College's run with four more of their own. The most emphatic of these tallies came from freshman first baseman Mallori Westbrook (Carrollton, Texas/Hebron H.S.), who launched a laser homerun to left-center, helping cap off a 9-2 win for Dallas. Westbrook finished the game with two runs, two hits and three RBIs -- all game highs.
Game 2: Dallas 18, Texas College 5 (F/5) Boxscore
Cheryl Hinze (Houston, Texas/Langham Creek H.S.) was given the starting nod in Game 2 for the Lady Crusaders, and the junior got the job done. In four innings of work, Hinze allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk, while striking-out one batter.
Texas College took the lead early, as the Steers scampered home a run on an error. Dallas, however, responded in a big way in the bottom of the 1st inning, to the tune of an eight run output.
The Lady Crusaders boasted a commanding 13-1 lead after just the first two innings of play, before tacking on another four runs in the 3rd inning, making the score 17-2.
After the two teams traded a run apiece in the 4th inning, including a homerun by sophomore third baseman Christina Jeffrey (Tomball, Texas/Concordia Lutheran), sophomore Brittany Castro (Houston, Texas/Langham Creek H.S.) closed out the game for Dallas as the new pitcher.
Despite giving up two earned runs on a walk and a hit, Castro and the Lady Crusaders defeated Texas College in Game 2, 18-5.
Of note, five Lady Crusaders -- Jeffrey, Westbrook, Meghan Frost (Bandera, Texas/Northshore H.S.), Meredith Noe (Sugar Land, Texas/St. Agnes Academy) and Laura Yokell (Fort Worth, Texas/Home School) all scored two runs, while Mollner crossed the plate four times. Mollner and Frost finished tied for a game-high three hits.
Next opponent:
Up next for Dallas will be a Saturday, April 9, match-up with visiting Hendrix College (Ark.) at Crusader Field. The two teams will square off in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.