Softball recovers from Extra Inning Setback; Take Split on Opening Day
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team would split on Sunday's season-opener versus Hendrix College. After dropping an eight-inning 2-1 setback, the Lady Crusaders took the second contest in 6-3 fashion. The win ended a losing slide dating back to March 25, 2003, against the Warriors.
GAME ONE INFORMATION
Final: Hendrix College (2), University of Dallas (1) (Final 8 innings)
Records: Hendrix (2-1), Dallas (0-1)
Pitcher decisions: W) Stockalper (2-0), L) Lee (0-1)
The season started off with Dallas playing an extra inning game that resulted in the Warriors tallying the go-ahead run in the eighth. Playing with the international tiebreaker rules, each team was able to begin the inning with the runner that had ended the previous frame on second base. Hendrix's Savannah Draud reached first on an infield hit, but lead runner Victoria Hughes would be thrown out trying to score. On the same play however, Draud would force another bad throw at second and came around to score the eventual game-winner.
It was the home team that got on the board first during UD's first trip to the plate on the campaign. With two outs, junior Lyda Tesauro (Hollywood, Fl.) walked and stole second with freshman Stephanie Cervantes (Temecula, Calif.) batting. Cervantes came through in her first collegiate plate appearance with an RBI single to center field.
In the top of the second, the Warriors evened the run column as Dasha Donahoe reached on an error and scored later on a wild pitch. The inning ended on a fantastic throw that started with junior Avery Finch (Jamul, Calif.) and got relayed from freshman Samantha Laberge (Round Rock, Texas). The centerfielder and second baseman teamed up to nail Jamie Johnson at home plate on a Madi Fires double.
The Lady Crusaders also only played one extra inning contest out of 43 opportunities last season. They had prevailed in an 11-inning marathon at Southwestern University.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Dallas recorded two hits total with senior Erin Begle (Houston, Texas) adding the other one. The shortstop also recorded one of the team's three walks, with Tesauro and Finch claiming the others.
- Tesauro would pick up her first steal of the season.
- Junior Katie Lee (Houston, Texas) pitched all eight innings and allowed two runs (0 earned) on five hits. She walked a pair and got three strikeouts.
- Hendrix's Shelby Anderson led the offense with a 2-for-4 day at the plate. Hughes, Johnson, and Fires rounded out the other base knocks.
- In the circle for the Orange and Black was Emily Stockalper. She earned the victory with a 1 run, two hit game. The pitcher notched five punchouts.
GAME TWO INFORMATION
Final: Hendrix College (3), University of Dallas (6)
Records: Hendrix (2-2), Dallas (1-1)
Pitcher decisions: W) Parks (1-0), L) Draud (0-1)
The Lady Crusaders etched a trio of two-run innings in game two for their first triumph of the season. For the second time on the day, Dallas struck first in the opening frame. Finch walked and stole second and third with freshman Melanie Savala (Bryan, Texas) batting. The next person in the order was Tesauro, and 2015's team-leader for triples (3), would crack one to give the home squad an edge that would not be relinquished.
In the third innings, the Navy and White doubled the advantage with two more runs on a single hit. It was the second time that game, Dallas pushed a pair across on a lone base knock. In the third, UD was able to take advantage of two-out walks and a double steal from freshman Katie Antigua (Elk Grove, Calif.) and Begle. Another freshman Samantha Bratsch (The Woodlands, Texas) punched the ball up the middle for the scoring plays.
The guests made it interesting with a three-run sixth as Sydney Ozersky and Karli Sewell both laced hits to cut the margin to one. UD countered with its final runs in the bottom of the inning and closed out the seventh by sitting the Warriors down in order.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Savala and Tesauro both notched 2-for-4 showings and an RBI. Junior Allison Kotlar (Edna, Texas) contributed a multi-hit game (2-for-3) with an RBI as well.
- Antigua and Begle drew three walks apiece, and combined for all but one of the Lady Crusaders' seven free passes.
- Dallas amassed eight steals with Finch, Tesauro, and Begle each swiping two.
- Debuting with a complete game win was freshman Paige Parks (Cedar Park, Texas). Her final stat line was three runs (all earned) on four hits, three walks, and three strikeouts.
- Hughes led Hendrix with a pair of hits.
- Draud was saddled for the loss with two runs given up in the first inning of her start. Dasha Donahoe logged four innings and allowed three runs on five hits. She walked four as the duo combined for all seven to the opposition.
UP NEXT
Dallas is on the road at Millsaps College for a quartet of games. UD will play doubleheaders on February 20-21, with the host team being the first of the twinbill both days. The Lady Crusaders will also play Huntingdon College in the second game at the neutral site.