UD Softball 2021 Season Preview; Open this Weekend at Southwestern

GEORGETOWN, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team will play its first games of the 2021 season on March 6-7 at Southwestern University. These games also mark the conference opener for the Crusaders, who will be led by first-year head coach Christian Novak.

Weather and COVID-19 challenges wiped Dallas' February calendar of games. The Crusaders will now play mostly Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference opponents the remainder of spring. One exception after this weekend will be the following on Mar. 13 at University of the Ozarks.

The Crusaders play 10 straight home games over a three-weekend course through Easter. The home-opening series is Mar. 20-21 versus Austin College, which will be a four-game set. The final game of that series will not count toward league play. Dallas then concludes the month with three games versus Centenary College on Mar. 27-28. The lengthy home stand finishes on April 1-2 with new SCAC member, University of St. Thomas.

Dallas next has its challenge with the defending NCAA Division III Champions Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas, on Apr. 9-10. The final home weekend for UD will be against Schreiner University on Apr. 17-18 and is also a four-game series. The regular season finishes at Trinity University on Apr. 24-25.

As of now the SCAC Tournament will begin Apr. 30.

Dallas is set to field a roster of 12 players this weekend. Emily Martin (San Jose, Calif.) holds the most experience after the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility due to the shortened season in 2020. She helps form a group of nine returners. Liz Cordova (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Maggie Watts (Arcadia, La.), and Karly Girod (Fort Worth, Texas) are featured in the next class. Bri Hale (Austin, Texas), Madison Coutts (Tampa, Fla.), and Karina Campo (Georgetown, Texas) will be playing on their third opening day roster. Annabel Anderson (Midlothian, Texas) and Bonnie Swinnea (Georgetown, Texas) are the two returners that were freshmen last year. Devinne Green (Riverside, Calif.), Rylee Sundberg (Phoenix, Ariz.), and Brenna Kelly (Missouri City, Texas) are the newcomers on this year's team.

Cordova and Watts each have earned SCAC Player of the Week honors on the Offensive and Pitcher sides, respectively. Cordova was in 2019 and Watts was in 2020. In last year's shortened year, Anderson led the offense with a .391 batting average, five doubles, and 10 RBI. Cordova had a team-high 19 hits and drilled four doubles. Coutts rounded contributed 15, which is the third highest total on the season.

Watts figures to anchor the pitching after her 40.1 innings led the staff last year. Campo and Martin also bring experience to the circle and Green should see time there.

Southwestern is 1-3 on the season after splitting with University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in early February. Last weekend, the Pirates dropped two against NCAA DII St. Edward's University. The Pirates were selected second in the SCAC Coaches' Preseason Poll with 46 points. Tori Montemayor and Maddie Mefford have combined for 11 hits and each scored six runs. Livestats and Video are linked on the schedule/results pages of both schools.

First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is at 5 p.m. and Sunday's finale is scheduled for 1 p.m.