Early Deficit hinders Softball in SCAC Tournament on Friday; Play Elimination Game Saturday
KERRVILLE, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team (20-15) dropped a 4-2 decision at Schreiner University (8-29) on Friday afternoon in game two of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Tournament.
The setback ends a four-game winning streak for the Lady Crusaders, who will play the loser of Game 3 later between No. 1-Seed Texas Lutheran University and No. 4-Seed Southwestern University.
Host school Schreiner won its third-straight and have won all of its games at the friendly confines this year built an early 3-0 lead in the first two innings. UD allowed two runs in the first as Samantha Cordon and Sydney Christopher ripped back-to-back doubles to get the Mountaineers ahead.
The third-seeded Lady Crusaders scrapped a run in the second inning as Junior Erin Begle (Houston, Texas) hustled home on a wild pitch to get her squad on the board. In the following inning, the Navy and White utilized small ball again as sophomore Avery Finch (Jamul, Calif.) reached on a bunt single.
The centerfielder got to third on the second of three hits from sophomore Lyda Tesauro (Hollywood, Fla.), who advanced to scoring position on the throw. Senior Taylor Garcia (Pflugerville, Texas) tied the single-season school record for runs batted in with her 39th on a sacrifice fly to left field.
Garcia's long fly out scored Finch and nipped the deficit to 3-2, but SU was able to answer back with a run in the fourth to complete the scoring and advance to Game 4 versus No. 2-Seeded Trinity University at 6 p.m.
Dallas was outhit 8-5 by the Mountaineers, and committed two errors to SU's none. Tesauro provided most of the thunder for the Navy and White going a perfect three-for-three with a double and stolen base in the setback.
Begle provided the other base knock, with a two-bagger coming off the bat of the shortstop in the second inning to get the frame started.
Getting her first start in the circle for UD was senior Ashley Pickert (Lenexa, Kan.). Prior to today the infielder had logged two scoreless innings, and she battled through a complete game effort. The senior (0-1) allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits, while walking three.
Lorena Espinoza (3-18) went the distance for the Maroon and White, scattering five hits and surrendering two runs in the early portion of the affair. She walked two opposing batters.
Neither pitcher recorded a strikeout through the 54 outs.
Schreiner had two players with multi-hit performances led by Dominique Sandoval with a game-high three, and Christopher with a pair. Daneece Stewart and Sam Hernandez each added an RBI in the victory.
UP NEXT
Dallas returns to the diamond in an SCAC Elimination Game Saturday at 10 a.m. versus Southwestern. The Lady Crusaders can advance to the next round with a win and would play the winner of Austin College and either Trinity or Schreiner at 4 p.m.