Softball holds off Southwestern in Game Two for Opening-Series Split
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team split the first doubleheader of a four-game conference series with Southwestern University on Friday. After falling 7-1 in the opener, the Lady Crusaders held off a four-run seventh to hang onto a 6-4 triumph.
GAME ONE INFORMATION
Team Scores: Southwestern University (7), University of Dallas (1)
Team Records: Southwestern (15-10, 8-5 SCAC), Dallas (9-14, 4-5 SCAC)
Pitching Records: W) Smith (10-6), L) Parks (2-6)
In the first contest, Dallas allowed the Pirates to get an early 1-0 edge in the first inning. A leadoff double by Celeste Silvas started the game and she scored two batters later on a single by Stacy Rosengren. The Pirates doubled the advantage in the fourth.
The tough knock occurred in the fifth as SU's Taylor Curtis pounded a two-run homer over the left field wall and increased the deficit to 4-runs.
The Lady Crusaders' offense did not provide many opportunities, until the sixth inning, where they scored their only run of the ballgame. Junior Lyda Tesauro (Hollywood, Fl.) ripped a one-out single and stole second with senior Erin Begle (Houston, Texas) batting. The clean-up hitter kept her perfect day at the plate going with a single to left field. Southwestern was unable to come up with a clean pickup, and Tesauro found the next gear to break the shutout bid.
Unfortunately the Pirates countered with three runs in their final turn batting in the game and widened the gap to far.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Begle boasted a 3-for-3 performance and had half of UD's total hits.
- Number 1-4 hitters compiled all six base knocks which included: junior Avery Finch (Jamul, Calif.), freshman Melanie Savala (Bryan, Texas), Tesauro, and Begle.
- UD extra base hits: Two doubles from Begle (7). UD stolen bases: Tesauro (8).
- Freshman Paige Parks went 6.1 innings with seven runs (5 earned) allowed. She gave up 10 hits and walked four to go with that same amount of strikeouts.
- For the Pirates, Berkeley Bacon produced a 3-for-4 showing with a game-high three runs scored. Karly Pustka (2-3) and Silvas (2-5) added multi-hit games. Bacon knocked a pair of doubles and Silvas added the other.
- Chandler Smith went a complete game and allowed an unearned run while scattering six hits. She walked one and struck out four.
GAME TWO INFORMATION
Team Scores: Southwestern University (4), University of Dallas (6)
Team Records: Southwestern (15-11, 8-6 SCAC), Dallas (10-14, 5-5 SCAC)
Pitching Records: W) Lee (8-8), L) Robb (5-5)
In the latter contest, Dallas would be the first to score in its opening at-bat. Finch began the game with a triple to left field. She would be put out on a play at home, as freshman Roman Thornton (Wharton, Texas) reached on the fielder's choice.
It was Thornton's debut in the two-hole of the lineup. She rewarded the confidence with a 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. The first of two stolen bases moved the outfielder into scoring position, and went to third after Tesauro got on via an infield hit. The duo successfully completed a double steal to give UD a lead that would not be relinquished. Begle picked up right where she left off with a doubled to left field and drove in Tesauro.
Two innings later, another Finch triple kicked off the frame, but this time to right center field. That three-bagger matched a single-game record as the junior outfielder became the seventh player to hit the feat. Thornton would beat out an infield single to short and Finch scored the lone run of the third and opened a 3-run lead for the home side.
A three-run fourth expanded the margin to six runs, the largest differential for the game, for the Navy and white. Freshman Katie Antigua (Elk Grove, Calif.) started the fourth with a single to center that was just out of reach of a diving outfielder. Classmate Samantha Laberge (Round Rock, Texas) was plunked in between two UD outs, and Finch drew a walk to load the bases.
A pair of singles were delivered from Thornton and Tesauro. The number three hitter drew a pair of ribbies in her smack up the middle. This advantage was necessary as Southwestern posted four runs in its final trip at the plate. Four of the Lady Crusaders' five errors in the game were charged that inning.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
-Dallas etched 11 hits compared to the Pirates' eigth.
- Finch (3-3) and Tesauro (3-4) posted game-highs for the Lady Crusaders. Finch scored two times for the only multiple marking in that column.
- The top of three hitters in the UD order had all the multiple hit days with Finch, Thornton, and Tesauro compiling eight. Begle's first hit gave that group nine. Hitters two through four combined for all five UD RBI. This included Thornton and Tesauro with a pair each.
- Tesauro set a personal best, eight-game hitting streak. Begle follows with an active seven-game streak.
- UD extra base hits: two Finch triples (4), doubles from Begle (8) and Savala (4).
- UD steals: two – Thornton (5), Finch (23), Tesauro (9), and Savala (9)
- Junior Katie Lee (Houston, Texas) improved to 8-8 with a seven inning complete game. Allowed four runs (2 earned), on eight hits, a walk, and fanned a season-high five.
- For Southwestern, Bacon went 2-for-2 with a walk and run scored. Curtis added a 2-for-3 and a run. Amelia Fuchs recorded the only extra base knock for SU, which was a double.
- Isabella Robb started and went 4.1 innings total. Final stat line was eight hits, three runs, no walks, and three strikeouts.
- She left in the middle of the third and would re-enter in the fourth to complete the remainder of the contest. Smith went 1.2 innings in between the stints.
UP NEXT
These teams conclude the series at 12 p.m. on Saturday.