Coutts Puts Crusaders on Top in Game 2; UD Softball Splits Fall Ball Games

IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team split its fall ball doubleheader on Saturday, September 28, versus Southwestern Assemblies of God University. The Crusaders hung tough with SAGU in game one before a late rally came up short in a 3-1 final. The home team ended a three-game losing streak to the Lions with a 4-2 victory fueled by three runs in the fifth.

It was a tight battle in the first contest, with Cheyenne Fults tripling down the right field line to score Ashlyn Teran in the fourth inning for the only runs until the last frame. Fults led off the seventh with a single to right and Maddie Watson followed with a double in the same direction. A hit by pitch loaded the bases and after two batters were retired, Lauren Young singled off the glove of a diving Caitlyn Stevenson (Henderson, Nev.) out toward the left field foul line from the short stop position. SAGU went up 3-0.

Dallas posted four of its six hits in the bottom half of the inning. Bri Torres (Cypress, Texas) and Brianna Hale (Austin, Texas) had consecutive base hits to start things. Hale doubled and moved to third on the relay throw, but Torres was thrown out for the first one at home. Angela Wang (The Woodlands, Texas) got the RBI groundout for Dallas' lone run. The Crusaders loaded the bases to keep hope alive but came up short.

In the second game, the Lions pounced on UD for two runs on four hits – first three batters grabbing a single - in the first inning. Teran and Brycelen Richards recorded the RBI knocks.

The Crusaders got a run back in the home second inning with Mackenzie Tano (Wylie, Texas) singling up the middle. Freshmen Annabel Anderson (Midlothian, Texas) and Bonnie Swinnea (Kosse, Texas) got the inning started with base hits. Swinnea plated the run to slash the deficit in half.

Dallas threatened to tie and possibly go ahead with the bases loaded and no outs. A couple infield groundouts retired the lead runners at home, but Swinnea snuck a hard hit line drive just past the SAGU shortstop, Lauren Alderete, and set the stage for designated player Madison Coutts (Tampa, Fla.) to drop in a softly hit ball in right-center that scored Julie Duenas (Houston, Texas) and Yared Cortez (Clint, Texas) to give the Crusaders the lead for the first time.

Emily Martin (San Jose, Calif.) finished the victory out as she allowed two hits in the seventh, but Karly Girod (Fort Worth, Texas) erased one of the runners on a caught stealing. Martin threw the four shutout innings of relief as the pair of hits were the only ones allowed by Dallas after the first inning. Maggie Watts (Arcadia, La.) and Martin did not allow a walk and each had a strikeout.

They combined for seven innings on the day in both outings.

Young surrendered the three runs on four hits in an inning of work. Four pictures threw for SAGU.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Just call her sWINnea! The freshman came through with a clutch tying hit that helped proceed the go-ahead RBIs from Coutts up next!#WeAreUD #d3sb #UDallas pic.twitter.com/wHcs9USfD3

— UDallas Athletics (@UDallasSports) September 29, 2019

UP NEXT

Dallas will begin the 2020 season on February 7 at home against Southwestern College (KS). Check out the 2020 schedule here.