No. 2 Texas Lutheran Sweeps Softball
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team wrapped up its first weekend of Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) play on Saturday against No. 2 Texas Lutheran University. The high-ranked Bulldogs proved to be too much for Dallas, who were run ruled the first time this season en route to a four-game series sweep.
(Game 1) (Final 5 innings)
Team Scores: Texas Lutheran (8), Dallas (0)
Records: Texas Lutheran (10-1, 3-0), Dallas (1-10, 0-3)
Pitcher Records: W) Stone (1-0), L) Watts (0-6)
Texas Lutheran posted at least one run per inning through five, and were able to blank the Crusaders in the first matchup of the day. Kyla Lockley and Kelly Jurden were each able to start the game by reaching via infield singles. Lockley stole second with Jurden up, whose hit moved the runners to the corners. Jurden then swiped second. Kelsie McEachern and Kassie Maddox were able to have consecutive RBI groundouts to put the Bulldogs on top right away.
The visitors did etch 11 hits in the game, with four doubles counting for all the extra base knocks. TLU never scored more than two runs in an inning, but formed a pattern at scoring a pair in the odd innings and one in the even frames.
Dallas was held to two hits and two walks. The home team did not have a runner reach second in the game.
Liz Cordova (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Mackenzie Tano (Wylie, Texas) recorded the UD hits. Tano reached base twice with her other time being a walk. Alicia Enciso (Corona, Calif.) also had a free pass, which occurred her first plate appearance for the UD's number 2 hitter.
Cassie Roche produced a perfect day at the plate (3-3) with two of her hits counting for doubles. She scored a pair of runs and drove in one. Jurden had the other multi-hit game with a 2-for-2 and double. She also scored two times and earned a ribbie.
Kelsi Stone earned the win in the circle with five innings completed. She struck out two in the shutout.
(Game 2) (Final 5 innings)
Team Scores: Texas Lutheran (12), Dallas (1)
Records: Texas Lutheran (11-1, 4-0), Dallas (1-11, 0-4)
Pitcher Records: W) Raycroft (6-0), L) Galvan (1-5)
The Crusaders competed well keeping the conference preseason favorites at bay through four innings. Down 4-1 heading into the fifth inning, the Bulldogs exploded for eight runs to put things out of reach.
McEachern doubled home Jurden to get another quick run the second time on the day. McEachern scored the team's other run in the first. After that, the Crusaders kept their opponent off the board in the second, despite a two-out double by Lockley.
Facing Maitlin Raycroft a second day in a row, the Crusaders immediately got a runner on base with Enciso walking to start their first turn through the lineup. The freshmen also reached base safely in five-of-six contests with her fourth walk during that span.
Raycroft had been perfect through three innings and fanned 14 on Friday. In this most recent matchup, Dallas produced four hits, with two of them happening in the third. That was the lone inning the Crusaders scored on the afternoon. It was Enciso that singled to left. After the next two batters were retired, Gabbie Underwood (La Verne, Calif.) dropped in a single to center that advanced Enciso to third. The shortstop scored after Underwood got caught in a long rundown trying to steal second, but would not be put out until after the run had counted.
Underwood went 2-for-2 at the plate, while Caitlyn Stevenson (Henderson, Nev.) tallied UD's other base knock. Stevenson also increased her team-lead for stolen bases with her sixth.
Texas Lutheran put the game out of reach and had another five-inning completed game thanks to nine straight runs after the Crusaders got on the board to cut the deficit to 3-1.
McEachern tallied three RBI and was one of the top three hitters in the order with two runs scored. Lockley tagged three hits for a team-high, drove in one, and also had two runs scored. Jurden was the other top of the order hitter to score twice and also had multiple hits and RBI. TLU compiled 16 hits with 14 counting for singles. The visitors also stole five successful bases in as many attempts, with Kassie Maddox swiping two.
Lauren Galvan (Bryan, Texas) was saddled with the loss for Dallas. She threw four innings and allowed 12 hits on eight runs (7 earned) to go with three walks.
Raycroft earned her 6th win on the season and threw four innings. She allowed the four hits and a run, while striking out six.
UP NEXT
Dallas remains in SCAC play with its first road series up at Austin College on March 17th-18th.