Softball rattles Six-Runs in 3rd to erase early Gap; Win over Schreiner
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – After falling down 4-1 in the second inning, the number three-seeded University of Dallas softball team shifted the tide in an eventual 11-6 triumph over number six-seeded Schreiner University on Friday afternoon.
UD avenged an opening round setback to the Mountaineers a year ago. It is the first time since joining the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) in 2012, which Dallas softball prevailed in the first game of the tournament. The Lady Crusaders have now matched their win total for the 2015 season with 20 and have hit that mark three times in the program's history. The previous was 2010.
GAME INFORMATION
Team Scores: Schreiner University (6), University of Dallas (11)
Team Records: Schreiner (9-30), Dallas (20-21)
Pitcher Records: W) Parks (6-8), L) Vrana (5-17)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Junior Avery Finch (Jamul, Calif.) notched a perfect day at the plate, reaching base four times. She led off the game with a single to left field. After stealing second base and advancing to third on a ground out from freshman Roma Thornton (Wharton, Texas); the centerfielder scored on a wild pitch with two down.
Schreiner, who had loaded the bases in its first inning to bat, capitalized on five hits to gain its only advantage of the contest with a four-run second. Kaycee Govett singled up the middle to drive in Samantha Hernandez. With two outs, Alyssa Maki stole second and Govett scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Consecutive knocks by SU's Samantha Cordon and Sydney Christopher concluded the run production that frame.
UD went down in order in the bottom of the second and had been limited to just Finch's single the first time through the batting lineup with two out in the third. Finch drew a two-out walk, and her patience paid off as the Lady Crusader bats struck for six runs and as many hits to catapult them up 7-4.
In that big inning, Thornton doubled down the left field line to put two in scoring position. Junior Lyda Tesauro (Hollywood, Fl.) doubled to left and drove the first two names in the lineup in. That nipped the deficit to one run, 4-3. A single by senior Erin Begle (Houston, Texas) put a runner on the corners and set the stage for a double in the right-center gap by freshman Stephanie Cervantes (Temecular, Calif.). With UD ahead 5-4, freshmen Melanie Savala (Bryan, Texas) and Katie Antigua (Elk Grove, Calif.) drove in the final runners to cap the huge third.
The Mountaineers threatened once more in the top of the fourth, loading the bases for the second time on the afternoon, but left them stranded. Dallas added another pair of runs in the fourth and again in the fifth to counter the Maroon and White's two-run top of the inning.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- It is the fifth time this season UD has scored at least 10 runs. The Lady Crusaders outhit Schreiner 11-10.
- Finch tied a season-high three hits, and went 3-for-3 for second time on the year. The lead-off hitter scored a career-most four times in a contest.
- Savala (2-for-3) was the other lone multi-hit performance, as eight UD starters recorded knocks.
- Tesauro punched in three RBI and Cervantes contributed two on her go-ahead double.
- Dallas six stolen bases, led by Finch's trio. Thornton added two thefts and Savala picked up one.
- Freshman Paige Parks (Cedar Parks, Texas) pitched five strong innings of relief in the circle. She held the Mountaineers to a pair of runs on four hits, while walking two and striking out one. – After committing three errors through the first six outs of the ballgame, Dallas did not have one the remainder.
- Schreiner was led by Maki (3-for-4) and Cordon (3-for-3), who both matched Finch with a game-high in base knocks. Govett had a multiple hit day and Hernandez laced a triple for the lone SU extra-base tally.
- The Mountaineers stranded 10 baserunners and made three errors as well.
- Jessica Vrana was saddled with the loss after surrendering seven runs on as many hits in 2.2 frames. Lorena Espinosa hurled 3.1 innings and allowed four runs (0 earned) on as many hits.
UP NEXT
Dallas faces number two-seeded Trinity University Friday night. Scheduled start time at 6 p.m. Stay tune for latest news here. The teams split the regular season series, 2-2, at Irving, Texas. The scores were: (L, 6-3 |L, 13-7 |W, 8-6 |W, 3-1). Trinity is the host site for this SCAC Tournament.
The winner plays 2 p.m. tomorrow against the winning of number one-seeded Texas Lutheran University and number five-seeded Centenary College. The loser of tonight's matchup plays an Elimination Game versus number four seeded Southwestern University at 12 p.m.