Savala provides Game-Winner in Extras over Huntingdon; Split on Sunday
GAME ONE INFORMATION
Final Scores: University of Dallas (0), Millsaps College (8)
Records: Dallas (1-4), Millsaps (5-2)
Pitching decisions: W) DeNoon (4-1), L) Parks (1-2)
The Majors would score all but one of their eight runs in the third inning, and secured a 2-0 sweep on the season-series versus Dallas on Sunday morning. That crooked number for the home team featured seven runs, six hits, and two errors.
Prior to that juncture of the game, the Lady Crusaders had started the first two frames with a pair of hits but stranded just as many on base. Millsaps had the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, but freshman Paige Parks (Cedar Parks, Texas) escaped the two out jam by getting MC's Missy Romero to fly out to right field.
The next time through the order was rougher on the guests, as Katheryn Romero reached on an error by the third baseman. After she stole second, the next two batters for the Majors recorded outs. Katelyn Murray was hit by a pitch to keep the inning alive. Romero swiped third and Murray advanced to second on the throw to get two in scoring position.
Six straight hits would occur with a double by Rayner LeBlanc up the middle to plate both of the previous mentioned players. Kaitlyn Casias singled to center to drive the third run of the inning. After a walk split up the hit parade, four more singles were knocked before Rayne Gravat lined out to short stop to end the damage. Millsaps added a run in the fifth to secure the run-rule.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Dallas was outhit 12-6 in the ballgame. The two errors in the third were the only miscues by either side in the contest.
- Freshman Melanie Savala (Bryan, Texas) had the lone multi-hit game for UD and was 2-for-3 overall.
- Tallying the lone extra base hit for Dallas was freshman Katie Antigua (Elk Grove, Calif.)
- The number 6-8 hitters all had a knock and two walks combined for Dallas. Antigua was first within the unit followed by freshmen Samantha Laberge (Round Rock, Texas) and Roma Thornton (Wharton, Texas).
- Parks was tabbed in the loss with 4.1 innings of work. She allowed eight runs (7 earned) on 12 hits, while walking one and striking out two.
- For the Majors: M. Romero, Casias, and Mary Kate Bozeman had two-hits apiece. Romero led the offense with three RBI and two runs scored.
- LeBlanc contributed two ribbies. Bozeman batted 1.000 and scored a run.
- Cassidy DeNoon picked up the win in a complete game. She allowed six hits, walked four, and struck out five.
GAME TWO INFORMATION
Final Scores: Huntingdon College (5), University of Dallas (6)
Records: Huntingdon (2-5), Dallas (2-4)
Pitching decisions: W) Lee (1-2) L) Lanier (0-3)
Down to its final out of the game, Savala provided a two-RBI double to left center field and sent Dallas home in walk-off fashion in game two of the day.
The Lady Crusaders snapped a three-game skid and avenged a walk-off yesterday to Huntingdon College by creating one of their own the next day. It was a bizarre game where UD was outhit 9-2, but utilized 13 walks to create plenty of opportunities on the scoreboard.
Dallas took advantage right away with a pair of runs in the first inning. Junior Avery Finch (Jamul, Calif.) led the UD half off with a walk and stole second. Savala followed with a walk, and the tandem would race up 60 feet as Finch snagged third. Junior Lyda Tesauro got an RBI ground out and Savala hustled home on the throw out to first.
The Hawks answered with a run in the top of the second to cut things in half. The next four innings would result with HC marking a run on the scoreboard and taking a 4-2 edge. The go-ahead run at the time for Huntingdon was a sacrifice fly out to center by Lindsey Steph. Jessica Swindle singled to left center and plated Jamie Langford in the fifth.
In the bottom of the sixth, a rally for Dallas occurred as the game was evened on a pair of runs for the second time without a hit credited to the Navy and White. Five walks did occur in the frame, including RBI plays to sophomore Christina Torre (Novato, Calif.) and freshman Keali Weatherford (Humble, Texas). There was an out in the inning, but two straight groundouts including a force out at home, would keep the game knotted.
Heading to extra frames for the second time in six games after playing just once in them in 2015, the Lady Crusaders improved to 1-1 in those situations with their first one-run victory of the campaign. After allowing a run in the top of the eighth, Dallas got a final at-bat since it was on the home side of the scoreboard in the neutral site matchup.
With international softball tiebreaker rules freshman Stephanie Cervantes (Temecula, Calif.) was placed on second base having made the final out of the previous inning. Thorton reached on a fielder's choice to put the runners on the corners. The outfielder stole second base, but a strikeout by junior Allison Kotlar (Edna, Texas) left UD down to final out. Finch walked to load the bags, and Savala was as clutch as she has been all weekend with the big two-bagger.
It was UD's only other hit, and occurred 26 batters after Finch's single to left field in the third.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Savala was 1-for-2 with the game-winning pair of runs-batted-in to go with a game-high 3 walks. The third baseman completed a 3-for-5 day overall and has hit safely in the last five games.
- Finch swiped a season-high three bases, as UD had four overall. She was among a quartet of players with two free passes. Joining her were Tesauro, Antigua, and Weatherford.
- Junior Katie Lee (Houston, Texas) went the distance with eight innings. She allowed five runs (3earned) off nine hits in her first victory of the year. Lee walked three and two strikeouts.
- Huntingdon was led by Chelsea Messer with a 3-for-5 game and run scored. Messer smacked a double for the team's only extra base hit.
- Langford had the other multiple hit game with a 2-for-4 outing.
- Raina Lanier took the loss with 7.2 innings of work. She allowed six runs (5 earned) on two hits. 13 walks were trouble, and the pitcher struck out four.
UP NEXT
Dallas is back in Irving, Texas, on February 27 with a doubleheader against Southwestern Assemblies of God starting at 1 p.m.