Softball routes Southwestern; SCAC Tournament ends with Centenary
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team advanced to play four contests, which was the farthest for the program in three tournaments with the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC). After scoring their highest mark in a tournament game with 11 in their first victory Friday, the Lady Crusaders managed nine more runs in their first elimination game decided by a five-inning, run-rule to fourth seeded Southwestern University.
Dallas has also now won four straight in head-to-heads with the Pirates dating back to the regular campaign. The Lady Crusaders avenged setbacks to both opponents in the 2015 tournament, by defeating Schreiner and Southwestern. It was also UD's 21st victory in the spring season, which reflects the highest mark in program history during that span. The official program record for total wins in a year for UD softball is 22, which was notched by the 2015 squad.
Junior Avery Finch (Jamul, Calif.) and freshman Roma Thornton (Wharton, Texas) etched their names in the SCAC Tournament Records with five stolen bases apiece throughout to tie the mark.
The storied run ended for the Lady Crusaders late Saturday afternoon in a 9-0 shutout versus fifth seeded Centenary College of Louisiana. The Ladies went 3-2 overall in 2016 head-to-head matchups.
(Additional Note: Finch was announced on All-SCAC Tournament Team)
GAME ONE INFORMATION
Team Scores: Southwestern University (1), University of Dallas (9) (F/5 Inn.)
Team Records: Southwestern (18-23), Dallas (21-22)
Pitcher Records: W) Lee (15-14), L) Smith (13-15)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Dallas took advantage of two errors by the Pirates in the first inning. A single by Thornton sandwiched between miscues that allowed Finch and Lyda Tesauro (Hollywood, Fl.) to reach. Senior Erin Begle (Houston, Texas) drove in her 30th runner with a sacrifice fly.
UD never trailed from that point, and freshman Melanie Savala (Bryan, Texas) gave the third seed breathing room with her first collegiate home run of the season. Savala's two-out blast gave her a game-high three runs driven in.
The Lady Crusaders tallied a run in every turn at the plate and won by their largest margin in an SCAC Tournament game. The top of the lineup, which combined for nine hits and eight runs in day one; would be responsible for two of the runs happening in the second. Finch singled and advanced junior Allison Kotlar (Edna, Texas) to third. Finch stole second to put two in scoring position. The duo moved up a base on a wild pitch, before Thornton doubled to left field and scored Finch.
Freshman Samantha Laberge (Round Rock, Texas) increased UD's scoring margin with her second home run this season. The two-run shot scored classmate Katie Antigua (Elk Grove, Calif.), and counted for the Lady Crusaders' 20th long ball as a team.
With the higher seed up 6-0 through three innings, Southwestern avoided the shutout bid with a run in the fourth. Dallas got the run back to round out the scoreboard.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Dallas benefitted from three errors and committed none.
- Both teams recorded seven hits.
- Savala and Laberge increased UD's single-season home run record. Nine players have now contributed to the single-season record, and five tallying multiples.
- Thornton had a perfect day at the plate with three hits, two runs scored, and an RBI. Thornton collected three hits for the second straight game and had a game-high Saturday. She also doubled.
- Finch also scored twice as the duo had crossed home 10 time combined in the tournament.
- Junior Katie Lee (Houston, Texas) earned her 15th win in five innings. She scattered seven hits, allowed a run, walked none, and tied a season-high five strikeouts.
- Southwestern was led by Celeste Silvas (2-for-3) and Taylor Curtis (2-for-2) with two-hit games apiece. Curtis added a double.
- Chandler Smith was saddled with six runs (2 earned) allowed on four hits through 1.1 innings. She struck out one. She and Isabella Robb did not surrender a walk, as Robb threw the remaining 2.2 frames.
GAME TWO INFORMATION
Team Scores: Centenary College (9), University of Dallas (0)
Team Records: Centenary (23-21), Dallas (21-23)
Pitcher Records: W) Aldridge (12-13), L) Parks (5-9)
HOW IT HAPPENED
After combining for 40 total bases in the first three games of the tournament, which included double figures per game; the Lady Crusaders were held to just five in a 9-0 shutout in their second elimination game.
Centenary took the lead with two in the first at-bat for either side. Two errors led to a pair of unearned runs as Emily Sexton scored on the second miscue of the frame. Margeaux Smith beat out an infield single to shortstop for an RBI.
The deficit widened as the Maroon and White tacked five runs in the fourth inning to gain sizeable momentum the rest of the way. Two walks with an infield hit between loaded the bases to start the trouble. A trio of singles by Michelle Tasin, Wendy Gillet, and Smith counted for an RBI apiece and reflected a 4-0 lead for Centenary. The Lady Crusaders allowed three more runs on the final two errors they were charged to complete the big inning.
Dallas was held to a pair of singles from that juncture on in the sixth and seventh inning. Finch advanced to scoring position in that span, which was from a two-out stolen base. It was the only time UD had someone in that position.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- The team's combined for 17 singles.
- Dallas made five errors, while the Ladies were errorless.
- Finch, Tesauro, Begle, freshman Sukie Turner (Valley Center, Calif.), and Kotlar recorded hits.
- Freshman Paige Parks (Cedar Parks, Texas) went 3.1 innings in the start. She surrendered seven runs (4 earned) on seven hits. She walked four and struck out one. Lee tossed the final 3.2 innings.
- Finch, Kotlar, and Tesuaro played in their 44th games (all starts) this season. The trio opened the tournament by setting the new UD-record for games played in a single-season.
- Centenary totaled 12 hits.
- Tasin and Smith each had three-hit games. Spots 3 through 6 in the Ladies' lineup compiled all eight RBI. Smith led with three while Gillet and Mallory Ford added two apiece.
- Nicole Aldridge tossed six innings. She allowed four hits and struck out four, while walking none and blanking UD.
UP NEXT
Dallas has been eliminated from the SCAC Tournament.