4th Inning Runs Highlight Crusaders Sweep to Open Season
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team swept its season-opening doubleheader over Southwestern College (KS) on Friday night.
Trailing 5-0 through four and a half innings, the Crusaders offense erupted for six runs in their next turn to bat to take a one-run lead during the first contest. Both teams scored in the sixth with Julie Duneas (Houston, Texas) grounding out to drive in Caitlyn Stevenson (Henderson, Nev.) who doubled to start the frame.
In game two, it was another early deficit with the Crusaders using a big inning to reclaim the lead. This time the margin was two runs, but Dallas posted another huge fourth inning with seven runs crossing that started with Karina Campo (Georgetown, Texas) going yard for three runs. Stevenson also added four RBI to go with four combined hits and five ribbies in the series.
The wins are the first for head coach Caitlynn Dykes, and the team's first opening-day sweep since 2008 at Austin College.
(Game 1 Information)
Team scores: Dallas (7). Southwestern College (6)
Team Records: Dallas (1-0), Southwestern (1-2)
Pitcher Records: W) Rasmussen (1-0), L) Lyons (0-1)
The Moundbuilders had the first scoring threat of the game with Paige Hall doubling to right field to lead off the second inning. However, there was no further damage as UD starter Maggie Watts (Arcadia, La.) retired the next three including a strikeout looking to keep it tied scoreless.
In the next inning for the visitors, three runs on four hits would put Southwestern on top. A trio of doubles highlighted the inning, with Cassidy Schubert and Paige Hall driving in a run on each of their two-baggers.
Dallas responded with its first hits of the game and had a walk, but could not muster any runs in the home third.
After two unearned runs came in the top of the fourth to push the Southwestern College advantage to five, the Crusaders rallied back with six runs to claim their first lead of the evening. Madison Coutts (Tampa, Fla.) singled through the left side to score Duenas for UD's first run of the 2019 campaign. With two outs, Bri Hale (Austin, Texas) walked in a run and started a stretch of four Crusaders reaching in a row. Stevenson and Bri Torres (Cypress, Texas) had RBI singles and Duenas banged a double off the center field wall to lift the home team in front.
The teams went scoreless in the fifth before the Moundbuilders knotted the game with a two-out single up the middle by Cady Norton. Stevenson started the home half with a double to center. Torres singled to put runners on the corners. Her steal with Duenas up had two in scoring position. The Crusaders were threatening for more, but Southwestern's Hannah Foltz captured the last two outs.
Paige Rasmussen (El Campo, Texas) locked up her first career win with a fairly clean top of the seventh. She had a one-out infield single but the last two outs were handled including her lone strikeout to end things. She tossed the final four innings and scattered seven hits.
Stevenson, Torres, Liz Cordova (Oklahoma City, Okla.), and Coutts notched two-hit games, as Dallas finished with 11.
SOCIAL MEDIA
#UDCrusaders WIN! Take first game 7-6 over Southwestern College!#WeAreUD #d3sb pic.twitter.com/pzWO3KDMzg
— UDallas Athletics (@UDallasSports) February 16, 2019
(Game 2 Information) (Final 6 innings)
Team scores: Dallas (10). Southwestern College (2)
Team Records: Dallas (2-0), Southwestern (1-3)
Pitcher Records: W) Campo (1-0), L) Folts (0-1)
An error was costly for the Crusaders in the third inning as the road team went up 2-0. Kayleen Gonzalez singled to left center for the second run, as Loren Wright reached earlier that inning on a fielding error that got by Stevenson. Alex Ritzema scored on the miscue.
The inning prior, Dallas starter Campo had gotten out of a bases-loaded jam. She pitched around four hits and four walks but was able to go six innings in her first collegiate start.
Besides her night in the circle, Campo was a force at the plate as she awoke a dormant Dallas offense at that point with a big three-run blast. Weather temperatures may have dropped, but the Crusaders offense heated up in the fourth with 11 batters coming to the plate. Two walks set things up for Campo. Stevenson had the other big knock with a three-run triple to center that cleared the bags.
Campo retired the next six batters and Stevenson, Coutts, and Duenas drove in a run apiece in the home sixth to finish the eight-run run-rule. Coutts and Duenas both had doubles for their base hits. Hale was the other big hitter of the game with a pair of doubles for her 2-for-3 game. Stevenson and her scored twice.
The Crusaders had six different players contribute to the nine total team hits. Carah Delao (League City, Texas) and Stevenson each added a stolen base.
MacKenzie Lyons doubled for the only extra base hit for Southwestern College. She also threw the last two innings and allowed three runs on five hits. Hannah Foltz was saddled with the loss after allowing seven runs (3 earned) on four hits in 3.2 innings.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Campo smacked her 1st collegiate homer to give herself a lead that she protected in the circle the rest of game 2! It started a 10-0 scoring streak as well!#WeAreUD #d3sb pic.twitter.com/yH5uD77QZv
— UDallas Athletics (@UDallasSports) February 16, 2019
UP NEXT
Dallas wraps up its home weekend with Hendrix College on Sunday. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled at 12 p.m.