'Roo Softball Splits with Dallas

IRVING, Texas - The Austin College softball team split its doubleheader with the University of Dallas on Saturday, taking game one by a score of 3-2 before Dallas mounted a comeback in game two to hand the 'Roos a 13-12 loss. The 'Roos are now 1-5 overall and 1-3 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

The 'Roos jumped on top early and held on for the opening game win behind a first inning RBI single by Andrea Saucedo to make it 1-0, and two more runs came across in the second on an RBI double by Elizabeth Preston and a run-scoring single by Lyndsey Busch. That remained the score until Dallas finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth to make it 3-1, and UD's Annabel Anderson hit a solo homer in the sixth but that's where the scoring would end. 

Hannah Richendollar picked up the win in the circle for the 'Roos, giving up two runs, only one earned, on four hits in 6.1 innings of work. Alice Maisonet came on to get the save. Saucedo finished the game going 2-for-2, and also drew a pair of walks.

Austin College plated three runs in the opening frame of game two to take another early lead, with an error bringing home Preston followed by two-run triple by Ashley Elliott to make it 3-0. The lead grew to 5-0 in the second when when Sarah Ramirez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Saucedo drew a walk to push another run home. Dallas got one run back in the bottom of the second to make it 5-1, but an error opened the door for another run in the third as Austin College went on top 6-1. 

The Crusaders pushed three runs across in the third to cut the margin to 6-4, but Emma Martinez tripled home two runs and Avery Atencio and Busch each knocked one home to make it 10-4 in the fourth. After Dallas got a run back in the bottom of the inning, the Crusaders scored four in the fifth and Anderson belted a two run homer in the sixth to surge ahead 11-10, but more errors by the Crusaders gave the 'Roos the lead back at 12-11 in the top of the seventh. That lead would be short-lived, however, with the Crusaders coming back to get the walk-off victory with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Richendollar took the loss in relief, while Elliott and Preston each finished the game going 3-for-5 to lead Austin College offensively. Austin College and Dallas will square off again for another doubleheader on Sunday at noon.