No. 3 Texas Lutheran claims Friday's doubleheader in Big Fashion over Softball
IRVING, Texas – No. 3 Texas Lutheran University demonstrated why it has been a top 10 program all season, combining for 35 hits in Friday's opening doubleheader sweep of the University of Dallas softball team. Dallas watched its season-long, seven-game winning streak get snapped in a 21-1 setback in five innings to begin the evening. TLU secured the first two victories of the four-game set with a six-inning, 15-4 final in the nightcap.
GAME ONE INFORMATION
Team Scores: Texas Lutheran University (21), University of Dallas (1)
Team Records: Texas Lutheran (30-2, 16-1 SCAC), Dallas (16-15, 11-6 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) Grissom (12-0), L) Lee (12-9)
Dallas allowed an early two-run deficit in the first inning. After going down in order in the bottom half of the inning, the Bulldogs erupted for 12 runs off seven hits. Two of those knocks were home runs from Heather Hummel and Taylor Yancey. Hummel's long ball counted for a grand slam, and at the time plated five runs in the frame. Yancey's two-run shot capped the scoring that inning, as TLU sent 17 batters to the plate.
After a six-run third gave the guests a 20-0 edge, the Lady Crusaders would be held to the minimum through four innings.
Freshmen Katie Antigua (Elk Grove, Calif.) and Melanie Savala (Bryan, Texas) began the fifth inning with consecutive singles. Freshman Samantha Bratsch (The Woodlands, Texas) scored on a successful double steal that Savala initiated by getting a throw down. It was Savala's 17th this season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Dallas was outhit 20-2 and committed four errors.
- Savala and Antigua recorded the lone knocks.
- Junior Katie Lee (Houston, Texas) was saddled with the loss. She started and pitched an inning, giving up two runs (1 earned) on two hits to go with a walk and strikeout.
- Freshman Paige Parks (Cedar Parks, Texas) threw four innings of relief. 13 runs were earned and Parks walked six, including three in the big second.
- Eight of TLU's starters recorded multiple hit games. Kirsten Whiteside and Hummel notched three hits for game-highs. Yancey also drove in four with Hummel's slam. Jennifer Gallagher and Nicole Snow also brought home three. Megan Armistead stole three bases.
- Seven base hits counted for extra bases, including four doubles. Gallagher notched the lone triple, and the before mentioned two homers.
- Taylor Grissom went three innings in the victory. She recorded two punch outs and retired all nine hitters she faced.
GAME TWO INFORMATION
Team Scores: Texas Lutheran University (15), University of Dallas (4)
Team Records: Texas Lutheran (31-2, 17-1 SCAC), Dallas (16-16, 11-7 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) Lochte (10-1), L) Lee (12-10)
Game two remained competitive through the first three innings. Regardless of the four-run second, it was not until the Bulldogs posted 11 runs in the final three innings to force the second rule-ruled contest of the evening.
TLU matched four runs with four hits, as Hummel led off the frame on a double to center field. Two of the final three runs were unearned due to a throwing error after the runners had reached first and second safely via an infield hit.
Trailing 9-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Dallas cut the margin with a strong two-out rally that reflected in its four runs of the game being posted. Freshman Samantha Laberge (Round Rock, Texas) rocked a lead-off double to right center to ignite the offense. After two outs on the next pair of UD hitters, junior Allison Kotlar (Edna, Texas) beat out an infield single, and Laberge scored from third on that play to break the shutout bid.
Kotlar's hit began a string of four straight, with junior Avery Finch (Jamul, Calif.), freshman Roma Thornton (Wharton, Texas), and junior Lyda Tesauro (Hollywood, Fl.) all bashing hits. Thornton drove in one, and Tesauro's double cleared the bases with a pair of ribbies.
The Bulldogs countered with six runs in the sixth and ended the momentum.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Dallas picked up 10 hits. Committed four errors for second game in a row.
- A quartet of players logged multi-hit games: Thornton, Tesauro, freshman Tera Espinosa (Caldwell, Texas), and Kotlar.
- Kotlar added a stolen base with a swipe of third.
- Lee started and went six innings. She allowed 15 runs (11 earned) on 15 hits, and walked one with a strikeout.
- Kaymee Gooden had the big game at the dish with a 3-for-4 and five RBI. She scored three runs to lead TLU in all three offensive columns. Gooden was a home run away from the cycle.
- Taylor Yancey, Hummel, and Snow collected doubles to complete the extra base hits.
- Amanda Lochte threw 4.2 innings. She allowed 4 runs on nine hits with five punchouts. Veny Pizana went the final 1.1 and gave up a hit, walk, and struck out one.
UP NEXT
Dallas wraps up the final conference home games tomorrow at 1 p.m. Between contests, a trio of Lady Crusaders will be honored for "Senior Day." Erin Begle (Houston, Texas), Bailey DiStefano (Bryan, Texas), and Ciara Stewart (Crockett, Texas) will be recognized.