Softball sweeps Centenary on the day to Claim first SCAC Series
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team (11-7, 4-2 SCAC) claimed its first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) series win after sweeping Centenary College of Louisiana (5-7, 2-6 SCAC) in a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.
Dallas clinched the series 3-1, posting a 3-2 victory in the opener of the day, and 10-1 six inning affair en route to taking the second twinbill of the weekend.
The Crusaders have notched their highest winning percentage since joining the conference four years ago, and most to 11-wins during that span. UD has won eight of its last 10, including seven of eight.
In game one, Dallas got on the board first with sophomores Avery Finch (Jamul, Calif.) and Lyda Tesauro (Hollywood, Fla.) teaming up with two stolen bases. Finch swiped home as Tesauro raced across on the initial steal to second.
The speedy duo combined to snatch four of the Lady Crusaders' six steals in the contest. The home squad totaled six overall with Tesauro boasting a season most, three. Freshman Madison Goforth took two bags in the game to complete the group.
The trio of runners would also cross the plate three times each in the team's fourth one-run game this week. Dallas is 3-1 in contests decided by that mark.
After the Ladies knotted the affair in the top of the fifth on a double by Michelle Tasin, the Navy and White would respond in the bottom of the frame.
Pushing the home squad on top was another double steal effort, this time with Goforth and Tesauro maneuvering around the diamond.
Senior Ashley Pickert (Lenexa, Kan.) was tabbed with the only RBI for Dallas in the triumph. The second baseman's insurance run was needed after Centenary pulled within a run in its final at bat.
Lizzie Moran's RBI-bunt cut the deficit and gave the Maroon and White life with two outs. Two batters later, UD would close the nail-biter out and leave Centenary with two in scoring position.
Sophomore Katie Lee (Houston, Texas) scattered six hits and allowed two runs (one earned) with no walks or strikeouts in the win.
A quartet of players for Dallas recorded a pair of base knocks including Finch, Tesauro, and freshmen Azaria Herrera (San Juan, Texas) and Eliah Davila (Abilene, Texas). Goforth's lone hit was a double for the only extra-base one claimed by the Navy and White.
Dallas outhit the Ladies 10-6.
Melanie Wilson (3-2) was tabbed with the loss for Centenary, allowing two runs off seven hits in four innings. Haley Miller finished the game in the circle, giving a run off three hits. She walked one and punched out two.
In the second outing, Dallas accomplished a double-digit scoring output for the second time on the campaign, both occurring this week.
A two-run first got the offense rolling for UD, as the team scored in four of the six innings. Providing the early excitement in this one was senior Taylor Garcia (Pflugerville, Texas), who belted a two-run homer to left field. It was the catcher's second of the season.
The damage came in the third for the Lady Crusaders, who mustered a four runs to extend the difference, 6-0. Speed helped again as Finch bunted for a single and then moved to scoring position on a wild pitch.
Tesauro doubled down the right field line to start the crooked number frame. Another wild pitch brought Tesauro in and moved Garcia to third, who came around on a single by Pickert.
Dallas finished the scoring threat with an RBI groundout by sophomore Allison Kotlar (Edna, Texas). The home squad added a run in the fifth and would finalize the series-win with three in the sixth.
The Ladies were outhit 9-4, with a run tallied in their half of the sixth. Raney Bryant posted a two-or-two day, while Anna Dunn and Emily Sexton rounded out the individuals earning knocks. Elizabeth Lafisca was credited with Centenary's run batted in.
Garcia scorched the ball with a three-hit day to pace the Lady Crusaders. Most of the run production came off her bat, with a career-high five RBI and a pair of runs scored. Kotlar chipped in two RBI, while Tesauro crossed the dish four times for a game-high. The outfielder also collected the team's other multiple hit performance.
On the base paths, Dallas swiped five more bags, to increase its total on the afternoon to 11 overall. Tesauro chimed in with one, while Pickert and Herrera joined in with two apiece.
Lee (10-4) improves on her career-high in wins, which was set last Wednesday vs. Albertus Magnus, tossed six innings, while allowing a run on four hits. She walked one and struck out a pair.
UP NEXT
Dallas gets five days off before continuing a season-long, home stand. UD welcomes another league opponent in Austin College on March 21-22. Both doubleheaders are set to begin at 12 p.m.