Stellar Pitching give Softball Two Wins to Kickoff SCAC Play

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – It was a welcoming start to Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) play as the University of Dallas softball team combined to allow one run in a pair of wins on Saturday at Trinity University. The Crusaders got a three-run shutout in game one before sweeping on the day with a 3-1 victory.

Dallas last swept an SCAC opening day in 2014 at Centenary College. The Crusaders have won the past four regular season games in a row against Trinity.

GAME ONE INFORMATION

Team Scores: University of Dallas (3), Trinity University (0)

Team Records: Dallas (3-10, 1-0 SCAC), Trinity (2-9, 1-4 SCAC)

Pitcher of Record: W) Galvan (2-3) L) Castillon (1-5)

NOTABLE STATISTICS

- Lauren Galvan (Bryan, Texas) went the distance for her 2^nd win of the season and first career shutout. She pitched around eight hits and added a walk and strikeout apiece.

- The last time Dallas pitching blanked an opponent that did not have Katie Lee (Houston, Texas) in the circle was this date three years ago against Rust College (Chole Campise). Lee accumulated nine during that span (6 in 2015).

- Melanie Savala (Bryan, Texas) shattered a scoreless game in the 6^th inning with a three-run homer. It is the 2^nd of her career.

- Jade Miller (Plano, Texas) maintained her hitting streak at six games and stole twice.

- Allison Kotlar (Edna, Texas) was another player with a hit and was the first run across on the Savala dinger.

- Trinity's Rebecca Berreth notched the only multiple hit game for the home side. Rylie Goldwait singled and walked to have her reach twice.

- The Tigers left 11 runners on base and did not record an extra base hit nor steal.

- Katie Castillon went five plus innings as she allowed three-of-seven hits in the 6^th. One of those was the mistake that saddled her with the loss on the home run. She fanned eight.

- Katie Glomb faced the minimal in the last two innings and struck out a trio.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Trinity started the first inning with two on but only one in scoring position at second with one out. Marisa Trevino hit into a force out that had Dallas get the lead runner at third and then a pop up at short ended the inning.

A pair of bases loaded threats happened against the Crusaders in the bottom of the third and fifth frames. In the 3^rd with one out, consecutive dropped fly balls to center put two one in addition to Goldwait starting the inning with a free pass. However a lineout to left and groundout back to UD's Galvan kept the score at zero.

In the 5^th, the Maroon utilized two singles to the pitcher that orchestrated another chance to score with the bags full. Sara McCarty grounded out to the pitcher and the Crusaders finally gained some momentum at the plate in their next turn.

Dallas never left more than a runner on base per inning in the entirety of game one, but Kotlar and Miller led off the 6^th with singles to left field in back-to-back at bats. Savala clobbered the game-changing hit and Allie Driskill (Houston, Texas) singled for the team's 4^th hit out of 7 in the game that inning to end Castillon's day.

Galvan only had a one-out hit in the 6^th to get past the remainder of the game to nail down the shutout. She punched out Berreth for her only one to start a perfect 7^th. It was the Crusaders first shutout of the campaign.  

GAME TWO INFORMATION

Team Scores: University of Dallas (3), Trinity University (1)

Team Records: Dallas (4-10, 2-0 SCAC), Trinity (2-10, 1-5 SCAC)

Pitcher of Record: W) Lee (2-5), L) Glomb (1-5)

NOTABLE STATISTICS

- Dallas was outhit by two (6-4).

- Baylee Leifester (Belton, Texas) had one of the hits and drove in two.

- Driskill added to her RBI count (5) and rejoined Savala for second on the squad.

- The top three of UD's order combined for seven-of-11 hits combined between the matchups. This included three in the second game.

- Miller's streak reached seven and her stolen base streak is now at four in a row (6-of-7).

- Lee followed UD's freshman on the rubber with her best performance of the season. She allowed an unearned run in the 1^st but scattered six hits and struck out two.

- For the second consecutive game, Trinity did not etch an extra base hit. Trevino and Mackenzie Hill each went 2-for-3.

- The Tigers were errorless for the second time on the day.

- Glomb went the distance and allowed three runs on four hits. She walked two and struck out four.

HOW IT HAPPENED

This matchup the offense came early as both teams etched at least a run in their first turns to bat. Dallas started the contest with Kotlar singling to third on a bunt. Miller walked and then the Savala loaded the bases by singling through the left side. It appeared the home team might escape after a strikeout and force out at home retired the next pair of hitters. Leifester, making her 4^th start in the past four days this season, dropped a single to center and made it 2-0.

Trinity responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning as a dropped fly at second allowed Devon Potter to score on the error. Stephanie Crumrine had lifted the batted ball. The Tigers did leave two on base that inning, but never more than one the remainder of the game.

Lee retired the next eight batters after the road team miscue which included back-to-back perfect innings in the 2^nd and 3^rd. The Tigers only had one runner reach scoring position, which was the 5^th as Hill advanced to second on a groundout. The next batter flew out to right and concluded the inning.

Clinging to that one-run advantage at the time, Miller bunted to third to keep her hitting streak intact. She then stole second base to continue that streak and increase her total to 12 on the season (tied 1^st in SCAC entering the series). After the speedster got to 3^rd on a groundout, Driskill popped out just far enough to the shortstop that Miller raced home to push the edge to the eventual final.

UP NEXT

Dallas completes four-game series with doubleheader at 12 p.m. on Sunday.