Exciting extra-inning game lifts Softball to conference win-record; Split at Southwestern
GEORGETOWN, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team (15-9, 8-4 SCAC) prevailed in its first extra-inning contest with a 9-8 victory through 11-innings to earn a split at Southwestern University (13-11, 9-1 SCAC) on Saturday. Prior to the marathon game, the longest dating back through 2010 archives, the Lady Crusaders were topped 5-4.
The last victory for Dallas beyond regulation was in 2014 at Centenary College (4-2) in a nine-inning affair. UD's triumph also notably sets a record for most wins in conference since joining the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) four years ago. Southwestern also had its nine-game winning streak ended, and the Navy and White blemished the Pirates' first league contest. It was also UD's first ever win in program history over the opponent.
Generating the offense early was sophomore Lyda Tesauro's (Hollywood, Fla.) two-out double that would set the stage for senior Taylor Garcia (Pflugerville, Texas) to get the road team on the board in the first inning with a knock.
The catcher would record UD's only multiple hit game in the first of the double dip, and would add to her team-leading 27 RBI with a pair in the setback.
Also boasting an extra base hit was fellow classmate Ashely Pickert (Lenexa, Kan.) with her first home run of the year in the sixth. It was the infielder's second dinger of her career, and extended the Navy and White's advantage to 4-0.
Southwestern was blanked through the first five innings, and would nip the Lady Crusaders' four-run lead with one in the fifth and a huge four-run frame in the next bottom half.
Marissa Irving had a perfect three-for-three day at the plate with two RBI. Also garnering a pair of runs driven in was Ashleigh Scott, who matched her hit total. Rounding out the trio of multi-hit performers for the Pirates was Linsay Biggers coming off the bench with a two-of-two mark.
Scott's single through the left side lifted the home team, and capped a four-run, four-hit inning as Dallas was unable to respond in its final at-bat. SU outhit the Navy and White 9-6.
In the latter contest, the Black and Gold got on the board with an early edge in the second. However as the theme in this back-and-forth matchup proved, no lead was safe as UD evened things in the very next top half.
The Lady Crusaders notched their first lead of the second game with two in the sixth. Junior Erin Begle (Houston, Texas) ripped a two-RBI double to plate Tesauro and Garcia on the sequence.
After Southwestern cut the deficit to one with a run in its half of the sixth, the guests widen the gap with the biggest scoring frame of both contests with three. Sophomore Avery Finch (Jamul, Calif.) began the seventh with a triple, as two more consecutive knocks followed to begin a string of plays that would build UD's 6-2 margin.
Still, the home team wouldn't be denied its unbeaten streak within conference as the Pirates spoiled the advantage with four runs.
After both squad's traded runs in the 10th, the Dallas team manufactured a pair. The Black and Gold had one final opportunity in the home half of the 11th, but would only get one in as the Lady Crusaders triumphed.
Both teams notched double figures in the hitting category with UD reflecting a 15-13 advantage.
Two players for the Navy and White cracked a trio of hits, which were Finch and Begle. A quartet of Lady Crusaders' formed a multi-hitting unit including: freshman Madison Goforth (Tyler, Texas), sophomore Allison Kotlar (Edna, Texas), Tesauro, and Garcia.
Goforth matched a game-high three RBI with Southwestern's Ally Holland. Garcia smacked two doubles while Begle Pickert and Kotlar added to the UD's two-bagger count.
For the Pirates, Stacy Rosengren paced the squad with three hits, while Michele Ramos and Caroline Young chipped in two apiece.
In the circle for Dallas, sophomore Katie Lee (Houston, Texas) increased her single-season win total with 14 and hurled 17 innings combined; including all 11 in the nightcap. The right-hander allowed only one walk in the opener, and combined for nine punch outs.
Alyssa Novander (4-5) was credited with the victory in game 1 after tossing 4.2 frames. She allowed three hits, a run, no walks, and four strikeouts. She was saddled in the extra inning affair, after giving up six runs (five earned) in six innings.
Cozette Palmer was tabbed for both starts and would fan five to match her counterpart in the contest. She allowed three runs (two earned) off seven knocks and a walk through five. In her first game she lasted 2.1 innings while surrendering three runs, three hits on two walks and struck out two.
Dallas improves to 4-3 in games decided by a single run, after dropping consecutive decisions by that amount.
UP NEXT
The series concludes with a twinbill tomorrow slated at 12 p.m.