Dallas honors Garcia and Pickert on Senior Day; Tie Program record for wins in Saturday sweep
IRVING, Texas – It was a successful Senior Day for the University of Dallas softball team (20-14, 13-9 SCAC), as they completed its first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) sweep over Schreiner University (5-29, 4-16 SCAC) on Saturday.
Dallas finishes the home portion of its ledger this season with a team-best 12-6 mark, dating back to 2010. The pair of wins on the afternoon shatters the Lady Crusaders' highest total since the 2010 campaign, and matches a program most from 2009.
In the first of the twinbill, UD got on the board with two runs in the second inning. Sophomore Allison Kotlar (Edna, Texas) reached on a fielding error by the Schreiner shortstop to bring in junior Erin Begle (Houston, Texas) and senior Ashley Pickert (Lenexa, Kan.).
The Mountaineers knotted the affair in the fifth, and for the first time this series with a two-run fifth. The Maroon and White received an RBI-single from Daneece Stewart to put her squad in front in the sixth.
It was a quick recovery for the home team, as two runs in the bottom part of the frame produced another final lead change. The fielding miscues bit SU again as sophomore Lyda Tesauro reached due to a high throw from the third baseman.
The result brought freshman Madison Goforth (Tyler, Texas) in, and moved the right-fielder all the way to third base. This sequence set up a manufactured run as senior Taylor Garcia (Plugerville, Texas) lifted a sacrifice fly to center for the eventual game-winner. The ribbie also helped the catcher surpass the triple-digit mark with her 101st of her career on Senior Day.
Despite getting outhit, 7-5, UD had enough offense in this contest. Collecting knocks for the Navy and White included: sophomore Avery Finch (Jamul, Calif.), Goforth, Begle, Pickert, and Kotlar.
Finch led Dallas with two stolen bases, and Pickert added one. Begle doubled for the lone extra base hit.
Nichole Schoenherr and Samantha Cordon each tallied multi-hit games with a pair each. The number three and four hitting tandem also added an RBI apiece.
Saddled with the loss was Lorena Espinoza (1-17), who pitched six innings, while allowing four runs (one earned) on five hits.
Sophomore Katie Lee (Houston, Texas) notched the first of her two winning decisions with a complete game. Through seven, the righty allowed three runs (0 earned), on seven hits, and walked one to go with three strikeouts.
Game two was another tight contest as the Lady Crusaders benefited from a couple of errors from the opposition. Schreiner committed three in this setback.
UD got on the board in the first inning as Garcia drove in Tesauro on an RBI single up the middle. It increased the catcher's career-high mark to 38, as Tesauro kept the frame alive by reaching on a fielding miscue from the third baseman. The SCAC's second highest stealer proceeded to swipe second to get in scoring position for the conference's leading run producer.
After Schreiner countered with two in the second inning, the Navy and White posted a trio of runs in the second, with two errors being committed. The latest of the two miscues got Kotlar and sophomore Ciara Stewart (Crocket, Texas) into scoring position as Pickert scored.
An infield single by freshman Eliah Davila (Abilene, Texas) two batters later scored Stewart. Kotlar and Davila teamed up to round out the three scoring plays with a double steal. Dallas had three in the game and pushed the league lead to 94.
The Mountaineers knotted the contest in the third with another two-spot, but UD got big hits from Stewart and Tesauro in the third and fourth innings, respectively, to reclaim the advantage for good. Tesauro's hit was a double and Davila finished with a multi-hit outing.
For the visitors, Cordon etched the lone multiple hit game, and contributed an RBI. Marlena Cisneros, Sydney Christopher, and Brianna Rodriguez each drove a runner in. Sandoval (2-6 got the loss in six innings of six run (two earned) softball. She scattered five hits while walking one and fanning two.
Lee (19-7) improves on her career mark with her 29 complete game, and allowed four runs on nine hits, while walking one and striking out two.
SENIOR MOMENT
Between the contests, the University of Dallas softball team recognized two of its senior players, Garcia and Pickert. The catcher and second baseman have been integral parts of the program all four of their years here, and are helping guide the squad to one of its most historic seasons.
Dallas also tipped its cap to the trio of Schreiner seniors: Holly Molenaar, Cisneros, and Rodriguez,
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
After playing a stretch of 20-straight SCAC foes, Dallas heads to Ottawa, Kansas, for its final road swing of the regular season.
On Apr. 17 the Lady Crusaders face MidAmerica Nazarene University in a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. On Apr. 19, UD concludes the season at Ottawa University. First pitch at 12 p.m.
The SCAC Championship Tournament will be on Apr. 24-25, and hosted at Schreiner University.
