Softball unable to solve Millsaps
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team (3-5) dropped a doubleheader at home on Saturday versus Millsaps College (4-0). Dallas ends a two-game streak, while the Majors remain undefeated in the early campaign.
Game one was a tightly pitched affair, with MC compiling a three-run fifth to claim the victory, 3-0. In the second contest, Dallas would be defeated 15-4 in six innings.
Sophomore Katie Lee (2-2) limited the Purple and White to one hit through the first 14 batters, but would find trouble in a game-deciding fifth frame.
Kaitlyn Casias started things by being hit by a pitch, and two batters later, Missy Romero reached on a fielding error. These extra runners set the stage for a double to left center by Millsap's Kathryn Romero to break the deadlock.
Other than that inning, Lee kept the damage minimal tossing six shutout frames in the complete effort. She walked one and struck out five for a season-high.
The Lady Crusaders mustered three hits, with all coming from the top pair of spots in the lineup. Sophomore Avery Finch (Jamul, Calif.) and junior Erin Begle (Houston, Texas) recorded the knocks, as Finch posted a two-of-three display in the setback.
Earning the win for the Majors was Danielle Faucheux (3-0) as she kept UD off balance and allowed three hits, one walk, and posted six punch outs in the shutout.
Game two started much differently as the Navy and White jumped on Faucheux in the first with three runs to match three hits and take its first advantage of the afternoon.
Finch singled and Begle walked with one out to put two on with the team's leading RBI hitter coming up in sophomore Lyda Tesauro (Hollywood, Texas). The outfielder added to her eight total with a Double to bring Finch in.
A batter later, senior Taylor Garcia (Pflugerville, Texas) laced a two-bagger of her own down the right field line to plate Begle and a hustling Tesauro.
The next half of the inning turned the momentum back in favor of the visitors, as the Lady Crusaders surrendered eight runs, the most in an inning this season. Millsaps ripped eight of the team's 14 hits in the contest that frame, and took advantage of a pair of UD miscues.
A six-run sixth would open the advantage further and wrap up the latter game in six innings.
Finch boasted a consecutive two-hit outing, giving her four base knocks in six at bats overall in the twin bill.
Begle added an RBI in the fifth to bring the score to 9-4 at the time.
Getting saddled with the loss was freshman Elizabeth Symanski (1-3), who started and allowed eight runs (five earned) off six hits in 1.1 inning. Lee also hurled 4.2 innings for Dallas.
MC watched a two players pace the offense with three hits a piece with Rayne Gravat driving in four, and Rayner LeBlanc chipping in three RBI. Also garnering multiple hit days were Hannah Doggett and Romero – who also matched LeBlanc with a trio of runs batted in.
Cassidy DeNoon and Faucheux each pitched three innings and fanned two batters combined in the triumph.
UP NEXT
Dallas will get a couple weeks off before opening Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) play at Trinity University on March 7-8.