7-Run Fifth in Game 2 leads Softball to Split in Non-Conference Twinbill
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team split Tuesday's doubleheader with McMurry University in non-conference play.
Dallas built a 5-0 lead in the first game, but four runs in the fifth helped the Warhawks eventually force extra innings and go onto a 10-5 final. Nina Hernandez clinched the cycle with a home run in the eighth that highlighted a five-run eighth.
In game two, the Crusaders were able to respond to a 6-3 deficit with a huge fifth that included 11 batters coming up during a seven-run, momentum changing inning. UD combined eclipsed double-digit hit totals in the twinbill to combine for 27. This included a season-high eight extra base hits in the triumph.
(Game 1 Information) (Final 8 innings)
Team Scores: McMurry (10), Dallas (5)
Team Records: McMurry (5-16), Dallas (4-13)
Pitcher Records: W) Jackson (1-7) L) Martin (0-1)
The Crusaders struck for a pair of runs in the first and third innings to take the lead. Gabbie Underwood (La Verne, Calif.) recorded her first RBI with a single through the right side that scored Liz Cordova (Oklahoma City, Okla.). Julie Duenas (Houston, Texas) followed by crushing a ball over the right fielder's head for an RBI-double.
Two innings later, Alicia Enciso (Corona, Calif.) and Mackenzie Tano (Wylie, Texas) reached via a single and walk, respectively, to lead things off. After a groundout moved the runners up a base, Underwood ripped a single to center and increased her run production to three driven.
A sacrifice fly by Cordova in the fourth stretched the advantage by another run.
McMurry roared back with four runs in the next half inning to make it a one-run deficit. After posting four hits at that juncture of the game, the Warhawks doubled that total and also benefited from a two UD errors.
Dallas battled to keep the tying run from coming in, as the opposition left a runner on third in the sixth. In the seventh, a runner at third was thrown out at home as Enciso was able to get the throw to Stephanie Cervantes (Temecula, Calif.) for the tag out. However, the Warhawks knotted the game as Avery McDaniel was able to come in from second on a single to center.
The Crusaders threatened with two runners in the seventh, but could not get the game-winner.
In the eighth, UD got a huge play with the bases loaded as Ashley McClellan lined out to Duenas and she doubled up Adrienne Nairn at the nearby bag. McMurry was able to respond with Summer Quiroga knocking a triple to right for two runs to break the deadlock. Rachel Ripley drove her in with a single, and then Hernandez homered just fair of the left field foul pole to secure the cycle.
Hernandez and Quiroga each posted three RBI, and formed a quartet with Ripley and Eva Pourcio for tallying at least three hits overall.
Five players for the Crusaders also notched multiple hits, which included hitters four through six: Underwood, Duenas, and Caitlyn Stevenson (Henderson, Nev.). Enciso and Lauren Galvan (Bryan, Texas) completed the quintet with both going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Underwood matched a game-high three RBI, while Cordova and Duenas knocked a double apiece for Dallas' extra base hits.
Maggie Watts (Arcadia, La.) started 6.2 innings. Emily Martin (San Jose, Calif.) recorded the final out that frame. Watts would re-enter with the bases juiced in the next inning to finish the game for UD. Her line was eight runs (5 earned) on 14 hits and two walks.
Kamwren Jackson picked up the win by throwing five shutout innings of relief. She scattered four hits, walked none, and stuck out one. Cheyenne West allowed five runs on nine hits, three walks, and struck out two in three innings.
(Game 2 Information)
Team Scores: McMurry (6), Dallas (11)
Team Records: McMurry (5-17), Dallas (5-13)
Pitcher Records: W) Galvan (2-6) L) West (2-8)
The Crusaders were able to gain the early lead again in the next contest, with a three-spot being put in the home team's first turn to bat. Cordova and Mel Savala (Bryan, Texas) clobbered RBI-doubles, and Duenas had singled through the left side for an RBI between those two run scoring plays.
McMurry was able to counter with the next six runs, which included a big five-run third. A couple errors for the Crusaders, who had five all game, would allow for the big frame. Ripley had the biggest impactful hit with a triple that cleared all the bases to cap a 6-3 advantage for the guests.
Dallas did not have a runner at third since the opening inning, but would in the fifth as Underwood reached after a ball misplayed by the shortstop allowed Savala to get on. A delayed double steal made it 6-4, as Savala's at bat started a stretch of seven UD hitters in a row reaching. Beyond a walk to Cervantes, the next five players boasted an extra base hit, with four consecutive triples by: Lauren Galvan (Bryan, Texas), Enciso, Tano, and Cordova. Underwood added the team's third two-bagger to round out the high-scoring output that inning.
Cervantes then gave UD its third home run in the past four games, and her first of the campaign in the sixth.
Galvan, who ended up 3-for-4 with two runs driven in and a run scored, was able to toss a complete game, as she allowed one earned run on 11 hits to go with a walk and strikeout.
Underwood also posted a 3-for-4 and drove in one with two runs scored. Eight players in the lineup registered a hit, run scored, and RBI for Dallas. Seven different players were able to smack a hit for extra bases.
Underwood and Enciso extended their season long hitting streaks to seven games after the pair of matchups. Tano is on a four-game hitting streak of her own, and has posted a triple in three different outings during that span.
The Warhawks totaled 11 hits with five players responsible for two apiece. Ripley drove in a game-high four runners, while Nairin was the only player to score multiple times (2) to go with her 2-for-4.
Cheyenne West was saddled with the loss in 4.2 innings. She allowed 12 hits and 10 runs in her second start of the series, but nine runs were unearned. West also walked and struck out one.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Final | #UDCrusaders WIN! 7 runs in the 5th lift #UDSB past McMurry in game 2! | @UDallasSoftball #GoUD #d3sb pic.twitter.com/O3thBNxLZr
— UDallas Athletics (@UDallasSports) March 21, 2018
UP NEXT
Dallas is off this weekend, and will be back home for conference play March 30th-31st during the Easter Break. The Crusaders will host Trinity University with first pitch at 12 p.m. both dates.