Begle sparks Comeback with 6th inning Homer; Softball splits on day at Centenary
SHREVEPORT, La. – For the first time since the University of Dallas softball program joined the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) four seasons ago, both contests in a doubleheader would go to extra innings. The Lady Crusaders opened league action with a split, dropping a 6-5 decision and winning 3-2 in the latter game of the twinbill.
Dallas secured the split at Centenary College of Louisiana on Saturday, as both games went eight innings. The Lady Crusaders have now played four games in extras and are 2-2 in such scenarios.
GAME ONE INFORMATION
Teams: University of Dallas (5), Centenary College (6) (8 Innings)
Records: Dallas (4-5, 0-1 SCAC), Centenary (7-4, 1-0 SCAC)
Pitching decisions: W) Aldridge (5-2) L) Lee (3-3)
After allowing an early run in the second inning to the Ladies, UD would strike back with a single run in the next trip to the plate. A two-out rally began with consecutive singles by juniors Allison Kotlar (Edna, Texas) and Avery Finch (Jamul, Calif.). Freshman Melanie Savala (Bryan, Texas) had the RBI-single to left field that knotted the board.
The next inning, the Lady Crusaders pounded the home team with four more runs to open a 5-1 advantage. Freshman Katie Antigua (Elk Grove, Calif.) smashed her second collegiate homer of the season to bring around junior Lyda Tesauro (Hollywood, Fl.). A throwing error on a successful stolen base by freshman Stephanie Cervantes (Temecula, Calif.) and sacrifice fly out by classmate Samantha Laberge (Round Rock, Texas) completed the big scoring frame.
Centenary was unfazed, hustling for three runs in the bottom of the fourth and made things a brand new ballgame in the fifth. Kelcie Bourgeois and Michelle Tasin had the runs driven in credited, with Tasin etching a pair.
The Navy and White had at least one runner on second in the fifth through eighth frames, but would allow the Ladies to walk-off in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, Tasin came up again with a single to left field and scored Emily Sexton.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:
- Dallas totaled seven hits with a different player coming up with one each time. The first six batters in the lineup recorded a hit. Antigua had the big extra base knock counting for a homer.
- Antigua also tallied half of UD's RBI amount with two. The catcher added two walks. Laberge and Savala also drove in a run each and walked once each. Dallas accumulated six free passes compared to none for the Maroon and White.
- The Lady Crusaders were busy on the base paths, swiping eight thefts. Savala and Cervantes each picked up a pair.
- Junior Katie Lee (Houston, Texas) was saddled in the tough loss through 7.2 innings pitched. Lee allowed 15 hits, six runs (2 earned), and one strikeout.
- Tasin led the offense with a game-high four hits (4-5) and three RBI. Sexton added three knocks and scored two runs. Anna Dunn and Mallory Ford both had multi-hit games and Dunn scored twice.
- Sexton, Dunn, and Nikki Greer snatched stolen bases for Centenary, and Tasin smacked a double.
- Nichole Aldridge earned the win, going three innings of scoreless and hitless pitching. She did walk three and struck out two.
GAME TWO INFORMATION
Teams: University of Dallas (3), Centenary College (3) (8 Innings)
Records: Dallas (5-5, 1-1 SCAC), Centenary (7-5, 1-1 SCAC)
Pitching decisions: W) Lee (4-3) L) Bourgeois (0-1)
In the second game of the afternoon, neither side could find the scoreboard until the fourth inning, with Centenary scratched a run for the lead. Dunn reached on a fielding error by the third baseman from the Lady Crusaders that led to Tasin crossing.
Other than leaving the bases loaded in the top of the fourth, Dallas did not have many opportunities to get on the board. Senior Erin Begle (Houston, Texas) changed that by clobbering a two-run homer down the left field line to lift the road squad to a 2-1 edge. It was the short stop's first this year and eighth of her career. Tesauro scored for the second time overall on the day.
The Maroon and White countered in the next half of the frame on the lone hit coming off Kylie Bradley's bat that plated Cassie Gonzalez.
It the game knotted 2-all, it would be on to the eighth inning again. Begle sparked the rally again with a single to the left side. Cervantes also got a knock next and freshman Sukie Turner (Valley Center, Va.) advanced both on a ground out. Begle came in on a wild pitch.
That was enough as Lee retired the side on two pop ups and a fielder's choice to end the game after Ford singled to left. Lee threw the last 1.2 innings of 1-hit ball.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:
- The Lady Crusaders collected 10 hits on the day, with the top three spots in the lineup combining for half of them.
- Begle delivered a season-best, 3-for-4 performance with two RBI and two runs scored.
- Finch, Savala, and Cervantes each notched multiple base hits in the contest. Tesauro and Cervantes legged out a double apiece.
- Finch Savala, and Laberge had steals. Both teams earned two walks.
- Freshman Paige Parks (Cedar Parks, Texas) got the start and tossed 6.1 innings. Parks allowed two runs (1 earned) off six hits. She walked two and struck out one opponent.
- Ford had the only multiple hit outing for Centenary. The Ladies garnered seven hits and Bradley would record the only home side RBI. She also had a stolen bag.
- Haley Miller made the second start in a row. She tossed five innings and allowed a run on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Aldridge and Bourgeois each gave up a run while pitching in the circle. Bourgeois completed 2.1 innings.
UP NEXT
Dallas completes the conference series-opener on Sunday with a doubleheader at 12 p.m.