PREVIEW: Softball at LeTourneau University (3/8)
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FIRST PITCH
The University of Dallas softball team plays its first road games of 2017 after a 10-game homestand. The Crusaders are 2-8 this season and will visit LeTourneau University. First pitch of the Wednesday night doubleheader is set for 5 p.m.
The Crusaders are coming off a split last Saturday with Southwestern Assemblies of God University. After falling 4-2 in game one, Dallas rallied down 5-1 in its last at bat to walk-off with a 6-5 triumph. Three wild pitches happened that inning, including two in one at bat that allowed pinch runner Shannon Sheeley (Cedar Hill, Texas) to score the game-winning run.
UD NOTES
- Jade Miller (Plano, Texas) remains the team's top performer in most hitting stats with a .464 batting average, 13 hits, two doubles, seven runs scored, six stolen bases, and two home runs.
- Melanie Savala (Bryan, Texas) follows with a .375 batting clip and nine hits. She has ripped two-of-three triples by the team (Miller other) and is 3-for-4 in stolen bases.
- Katelyn Lazarek (Seattle, Wash.) is other player with at least three steals and is perfect in attempts.
- Makenzie Tano (Wylie, Texas) posted two hits in two-of-three games last week. She combined for three ribbies, including two in Saturday's win. She also scored a pair, which gave her five and tied her second with Savala for second on the team.
- Katie Lee (Houston, Texas) has thrown 31.2 innings and struck out 15. Lauren Galvan (Bryan, Texas) has logged 20.2 innings. Her and Lee have shared starts in the last two twinbills.
- The Crusaders as a team are 21-for-25 in stolen bags. They are hitting .248 and have walked a combined 19 times.
SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
- Since winning 3-of-4 games to start the campaign, LeTourneau University has dropped 11 in a row.
- The Yellow Jackets are 1-6 on the road. This past weekend, LETU was swept by University of Texas at Dallas (8-7, 5-0, and 6-1) on the road.
- The past three opponents for the Yellow Jackets have been teams ranked at some point this season, including top ranked University of Texas at Tyler.
- Shelby Barrick is hitting .378 and has team-highs in hits (14), home runs (2), and RBIs (8).
- Macey Mize is the other player batting at or above .300 and has 12 knocks. She, Whitney Judd, Kelsi Coleman, and Bailey Woodard each have a pair of doubles.
- Mize (12), Judd (11), Ashlin Roach (11), and Courtney Matulis (10) complete the top five hitters on the squad.
- In the circle, Ashley Burdine has made 10 appearances (six starts). She is tied with the team-lead for innings pitched (35) along with Faith Genoway. Courtney Matulis has also factored into three decisions (1-2) through six appearances (three starts).
- Dallas is 11-15 in the overall series against LETU.
- Last season the Crusaders hosted a doubleheader and split. They lost 9-2 in game one and prevailed 8-2 in the nightcap.
- In the win, Stephanie Cervantes posted a 2-for-3 game with a career-high five RBI. She homered and doubled. Savala scored twice. Lee pitched a complete game and scattered six hits for two runs while walking none. She struck out one.
- Allison Kotlar (Edna, Texas) did triple in the setback.
UP NEXT
Dallas begins Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) play at Trinity University on March 11-12. The series is four games long (pair of doubleheaders). Saturday's double dip begins at 1 p.m. and the second day will start at 12 p.m.