Softball splits Final Home Doubleheader Against Southwestern
(Photo Courtesy of anthonymazur@amnewsnet.com)
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team used come-from-behind efforts in both games of Sunday's doubleheader versus Southwestern University. The Crusaders were only able to hold onto one of the matchups in order to split the day.
In the first game, UD allowed all five runs to its opponent through the first three innings. Six runs in the sixth propelled the Crusaders on top by three runs. A trio of runs – including two in that sixth-inning rally – were scored via wild pitches. The Crusaders also took advantage of eight walks by Southwestern pitching.
The second game featured another early deficit for the home team. A pair of three-run innings in the middle of the contest helped UD nip a five-run gap and go up 6-5. After throwing a scoreless sixth, the Crusaders could not contain SU in the last inning. Katelyn Francis tallied the tying RBI, and then Sydney Scott laced a single to center that plated the eventual game-winner.
(Game 1 Information)
Team Scores: Southwestern (5), Dallas (8)
Team Records: Southwestern (19-15, 8-11 SCAC), Dallas (8-29, 2-17 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) Watts (5-13), L) Meyer (10-5)
Three runs in the first inning for the Pirates lifted them to a strong lead. Grace Phelps singled up the middle and Taylor Curtis added a two-RBI hit in that same location.
Dallas threatened the bottom half of the inning without a hit, as three runners reached on a walk. Only Gabbie Underwood (La Verne, Texas) made it home on a wild pitch. Two runners would be left in scoring position.
Southwestern added runs in the second and third innings to extend the lead to four (5-1).
Before the huge sixth inning for the Crusaders, Alicia Enciso (Corona, Calif.) homered for the first time in her collegiate career in the bottom of the third. Her batted ball carried over the left field wall to begin a stretch of seven straight runs.
Only three hits were recorded in the sixth inning, with the furthest hit ball leading off the inning on a double by Liz Cordova (Oklahoma City, Okla.). After a walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases, the second run to come in on a wild pitch would happen to nip the score to 5-3. An infield single by Mackenzie Tano (Wylie, Texas) shrunk the gap to a run, and then back-to-back walks knotted the ballgame. Enciso was credited the RBI on that game-tying free pass. Another wild pitch scored Tano to give UD its first lead of the afternoon. Underwood eventually placed the team's third hit with a ball laced up the middle to bring in two insurance runs.
There was a bit of drama in the next half inning, with a pair of hits and error helping out the Pirates. However, a double play eased the stress of the inning, and then Phelps grounded out to second to complete the triumph for Dallas.
Enciso reached base safely all three times as she drew three walks to go with her round-tripper. Enciso also was the only player to score multiple times (2). Underwood added a multiple RBI day with her two coming in that sixth. The first baseman notched the lone multi-hit performance (2-3). The first four batters in the lineup and five of the first six spots drew one of the conference game-high eight walks. UD's highest total amount of walks earned in a game this year was nine in the final matchup at Austin College (Mar. 18th).
Maggie Watts (Arcadia, La.) earned the win in a complete game effort. She yielded five runs on nine hits to go with two walks and a strikeout.
Southwestern totaled nine hits overall with a trio: Katie Bricarell, Curtis, and Mary Alex Krosby picking up multiples. Curtis drove in a game-high three, while Bricarell and Krosby respectively doubled and tripled for the extra-base knocks smacked by SU.
Lindsey Longuet tossed five innings in the start. She allowed five runs on five hits to go with five walks and four strikeouts. Bailey Meyer surrendered the remaining runs on three hits and walks in the losing decision.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Final | #UDCrusaders WIN! Enciso crushed 1st HR! Offense rallied down 5-2 with 6 runs in 6th to claim game 1 on Sunday! | @UDallasSoftball #GoUD #UDSB #SCACsb #d3sb pic.twitter.com/tZgtkonM0H
— UDallas Athletics (@UDallasSports) April 22, 2018
(Game 2 Information)
Team Scores: Southwestern (7), Dallas (6)
Team Records: Southwestern (20-15, 9-11 SCAC), Dallas (8-30, 2-18 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) Meyer (11-5), L) Galvan (3-16)
It was another early hole for the Crusaders after two came in the top of the first for their opposition. A couple singles gave Southwestern the edge. The Pirates would go up by five runs, as Curtis tallied her second ribbie in a row to increase the score to 3-0 in the third. A Phelps double down the left field line appeared to break the game open an inning later.
UD responded with a pair of three-run innings to trade leads. Immediately in the home fourth, the offense garnered four hits, which included two for extra bases by Cordova and Mel Savala (Bryan, Texas). Cordova hit her sixth double of the year to plate Julie Duenas (Houston, Texas), who led off the inning with a single to right. After another single up the middle by Haley Golden (Lake Dallas, Texas) placed runners on the corners with an out; Savala tripled a fourth time this spring to match the season-high with Tano. Her ball in the gap narrowed the deficit to 5-3.
In the next turn for the Crusaders to hit, another three runs came across. Three different arms came in for Southwestern that inning. Duenas doubled to right center to drive in Caitlyn Stevenson (Henderson, Nev.). The next two players reached via singles, with Cordova landing the game-tying RBI. There were only two walks this inning – three in the contest – but the consecutive ones to Savala and Tano sent UD in front for the first time that game.
Dallas amassed eight of its 10 hits for the game during those two scoring innings. The Pirates produced 19 overall, and would gain the necessary four to help exchange the lead in the seventh.
The triumph for Southwestern earned it the four-game series win, and secured the third place spot in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Tournament.
Enciso was again one of the top hitters with a 3-for-4 to match a game-high on both sides. Duenas and Cordova were two-hit performers and each doubled.
Lauren Galvan (Bryan, Texas) competed in the circle 6.2 innings, but would be saddled with the loss. UD did not allow a walk in game two.
Phelps smacked the only hit for extra bases. Nine different players recorded a base knock for the visitors, with eight posting two or more. Scott and Bricarell matched the game-high three. Southwestern combined for six stolen bases.
Five different pitchers threw in the circle for the Pirates, but it was Meyer in her fourth appearance of the series that notched the win. She struck out two for the team's only punchouts. Nadia Netek allowed three runs on six hits through four innings in the no-decision start.
UP NEXT
These teams will be familiar with each other as the SCAC Tournament begins April 27th-29th at Southwestern. Dallas will face the hosts that first day as the No. 6 Seed. Keep up with the latest updates on udallasathletics.com this week.