Softball earns Split on Saturday at Austin College
SHERMAN, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team split Saturday's doubleheader at Austin College.
The Crusaders held the 'Roos to one hit in a six-inning game that was run-ruled. Julie Duenas (Houston, Texas) produced a great day at the plate going perfect (4-4) with a trio of doubles (tied school record) and four RBI. Maggie Watts (Arcadia, La.) hurled her best start with a one-hit, shutout. The freshman also displayed a nice showing in her first game to hit, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, walk, and stolen base.
In game two, the road team fell behind with seven runs combined coming for Austin College in the third and fourth innings. Down eight (9-1) in the fifth, UD rallied for seven runs but could not close the gap.
(Game 1 Information) (Final 6 innings)
Team Scores: Dallas (8), Austin (0)
Team Records: Dallas (2-11, 1-4 SCAC), Austin (1-8, 0-1 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) Watts (1-6), L) Gonzalez (0-1)
It was a scoreless game through the first three frames. Dallas busted through with three runs in the fourth. Consecutive doubles by Gabbie Underwood (La Verne, Calif.) and Duenas got the Crusaders on the board. After Caitlyn Stevenson (Henderson, Nev.) singled to put runners on the corners, she stole second. Watts singled in Duenas and advanced Stevenson to third. After one out was made, Shannon Sheeley (Cedar Hill, Texas) got credited with the other ribbie as she grounded out to second and brought in Stevenson.
Duenas ripped her second double in a row to score Underwood from first base with two outs in the fifth. The third baseman capped her excellent game at the dish another inning later with her third double in as many innings straight bringing in the final pair of runs that would set the margin to eight for the shortened ballgame.
Duenas became the third player in the program to match a single-game record for two-baggers in a game. Whitney Thomas vs. Ohio-Chillicothe (3/10/07) and Haylee Yale (also versus Austin) (3/14/05) are the other occassions an individual has posted the mark.
The only hit allowed by Watts in six innings was a lead-off triple by Jaide Vidal to start the last inning. Other than that, the freshman faced 21 hitters. She blanked the 'Roos while not allowing a walk and striking out four. It was her first collegiate win in the circle.
The Crusaders erupted for 13 hits. Duenas, Underwood, Stevenson, and Watts registered multiple hit games. The first seven batters in the lineup tallied a base knock.
This victory for UD was the 230th of the program's history.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Final | #UDCrusaders WIN! Softball blanks Austin College in Game 1 today! Dueñas was perfect at the plate! Watts did well at the plate & in the circle! | @UDallasSoftball #GoUD #UDSB #SCACsb #d3sb pic.twitter.com/JcaUF6cWzI
— UDallas Athletics (@UDallasSports) March 18, 2018
(Game 2 Information)
Team Scores: Dallas (8), Austin College (10)
Team Records: Dallas (2-12, 1-5 SCAC), Austin (2-8, 1-1 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) McDowell (2-3), L) Galvan (1-6)
In game two, Austin College started with the early momentum by scoring two in its first turn to bat.
Dallas countered with Sheeley singling for a two-out RBI to cut the deficit in half.
Four runs in the third and three in the fourth expanded the advantage to eight for the 'Roos. There were only two hits in the massive third, including a double that drove in two by Courtney Gonzales.
She finished with a game-high four ribbies, which included another coming on a single in the fourth. With two away still, Madison Mahaffey posted the team's second double of the game to bring in two more. The final two-bagger in the game for AC was in the sixth by Beth Massey. That began the inning, and was crucial as she stole third and came in on Mahaffey's hit.
That run helped hold off a late charge by the Crusaders. Needing just one run to avoid the run-rule, they exploded for seven runs on seven hits. A quartet of hits in a row started the inning with Alicia Enciso (Corona, Calif.), Mel Savala (Bryan, Texas) Liz Cordova (Oklahoma City, Okla.), all reaching. Underwood doubled to bring in two. After Stevenson reached on a one-out error to make it 9-4, Stephanie Cervantes (Temecula, Calif.) doubled her in for another tally in the run column. A couple batters later with two outs, Enciso singled in her second time to bat that inning, and scored Cervantes and Sheeley.
It was not enough, as Dallas left one on over the next two turns offensively.
Enciso and Underwood headlined the bats with 2-for-4 showings, a pair of RBIs, and one run scored. Sheeley contributed a 2-for-4 of her own with a run and RBI. She also stole a bag.
Lauren Galvan (Bryan, Texas) was saddled with the loss in two innings. She allowed five runs (3 earned) on three hits and walks. Emily Martin (San Jose, Calif.) fanned three in three innings of relief, while allowing four runs (3 earned) on seven hits. Watts came out for the sixth and added a pair of punchouts.
Austin College was led by Gonzalez and Mahaffey in run production, but Ashley Elliott did post game-highs in hits (3-4) and runs (3). Vidal notched a 2-for-2.
Alyssa McDowell got the win by going all seven innings. She allowed four earned runs on nine hits, while walking five.
UP NEXT
These teams conclude the series with a doubleheader on Sunday at 12 p.m.