Softball routes SUNY Canton; Edge La Roche to sweep Day 1 of Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The University of Dallas Softball team posted a pair of victories on Tuesday in the South Carolina Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic versus State University of New York Canton and La Roche College.
Dallas has won three of four on this six-game road trip after knocking off the Kangaroos 12-2 in a five-inning affair this morning. The Lady Crusaders would complete the two-game sweep right after in a 5-4 final against La Roche.
In a 9:30 a.m. (EST) contest, Dallas poured a season-high 12 runs on SUNY Canton, which is the most since tallying 10 on March 30, 2014 at Schreiner University. The most that campaign was 14 a day earlier versus the same opponent.
The Roos claimed an early advantage with the first two runs of the affair in their first trip to the plate. UD would not score in the bottom half, but would score in each inning the remainder of the contest.
Dallas cut the deficit in half in the second on a throwing error by the opponent's short stop. Sophomore Allison Kotlar (Edna, Texas) put the ball in play and SUNY Canton's first of two miscues brought home fellow classmate Alexandria Compte (Houston, Texas).
The Lady Crusaders retook the lead for good in the next inning, with a season-most at the time four runs pushed across. Dallas kept mustering offense by adding two in the fourth, and finally breaking things open with a five-run fifth. That crooked number reset the new season-high mark for runs in an inning.
Two players paced the bats for UD with senior Taylor Garcia (Pflugerville, Texas) and freshman Madison Goforth (Tyler, Texas) combining for six RBI with three apiece. The duo tied their season-highs.
Goforth scored a career-high, three times, while batting a perfect three-for-three in the game to match a personal most.
Garcia contributed the other multi-hit outing. Senior Ashley Pickert extended her hitting streak to three with a knock, and chipped in a pair of runners batted in. Freshman Azaria Herrera (San Juan, Texas), Compte, and Kotlar rounded out the Lady Crusaders that garnered hits in the five-inning triumph.
In the circle earning the win was sophomore Katie Lee (Houston, Texas). She limited SUNY Canton to three hits and allowed two runs, while walking one and striking out four.
After a short break, Dallas moved to another field and began its mid-day contest with La Roche College. UD nipped the Redhawks 5-4 in the team's first one-run decision this year.
The Lady Crusaders would rally after down 2-0 in the second inning, by posting a pair of runs in the third and fourth frames. After the Redhawks tied things in the seventh on a two-RBI triple by Andie Lippman, the Navy and White responded in the home half with a bases loaded walk.
Lee earned the free pass, as Dallas also posted its first walk-off on the campaign.
Freshman Eliah Davila (Abilene, Texas) posted a multi-hit (2-3) day, stole the team's only base, and scored a run. Sophomore Avery Finch (Jamul, Calif.) and Goforth each added a knock to UD's nine total hits, and drove in two RBI apiece.
Lee (5-3) worked seven innings, and allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits while fanning five.
UP NEXT
Dallas wraps up the Spring Classic tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. (EST) versus Albertus Magnus College. Following that affair, the Lady Crusaders conclude the road trip with Cazenovia College around 11:30 a.m.