Crusaders Walk-off Again in Game One on Sunday; Win SCAC Series over Austin 2-1
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team concluded its four-game weekend series against Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) opponent, Austin College, on Sunday. Game one of the twinbill wrapped up the countable three-game set toward the conference standings, while the later game was just a non-conference matchup for the team's to have another game with each other.
Dallas picked up another walk-off win, the second in a row, to help clinch the series win toward the conference. There were three lead-changes, with the Crusaders tying the score in the fifth and then walking off with a win after an Austin College error allowed the winning run to score.
Game two saw UD erase an early deficit to knot things at four runs. However the 'Roos were able to break the gates open late and split the games on both days.
Game 1 Information
Team Scores: Austin College (3), Dallas (4)
Team Records: Austin (1-6, 1-4 SCAC), Dallas (2-4, 2-4 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) Martin (1-0), L) Richendollar (1-4)
Austin College grabbed an early 1-0 lead in its first trip to the plate. Elizabeth Preston set the table with a single up the middle and stole second. She advanced to third on a ground out by Lyndsey Busch, and then Sarah Ramirez was able to put the ball in play for a fielder's choice to the short stop. It was hit on a line drive and Bri Hale (Austin, Texas) came up with the ball that was called live for trapping it. The throw went to third for trying to double off Preston, but since it had dropped safely in front she could score without an attempt.
UD got the run back in the home half of the inning as Liz Cordova (Oklahoma City, Okla.) doubled in her third game of the series to right center field. Annabel Anderson (Midlothian, Texas) scored the tying run. Cordova would cross home two batters later as Brenna Kelly (Missouri City, Texas) tripled to left center to bring home the UD center fielder.
The 'Roos retook the lead with a two-spot in the third inning. Ramirez drove in the run that leveled the score on a ground out, and then three batters later Avery Atencio singled to right center and scored Andrea Saucedo.
Dallas went down in order in the third and a Kelly single and stolen base was all that happened in the fourth. With one away Devinne Green (Riverside Calif.) singled to center field. Anderson walloped a double off the center field wall to the right at the base of it and that put two in scoring position. Madison Coutts (Tampa, Fla.) grounded out to second base and Green raced home. Anderson would be stranded at second as the final out was made on a popup to short stop.
The bases would be loaded in the bottom of the sixth, as Hale and Kelly singled and then a two-out error allowed the bases to be loaded. However, the run production was missing the final hit to push at least one run across.
In the seventh, the 'Roos threatened with a two-out double by Ramirez to right. Pinch runner Jaide Vidal stole third on a walk to Saucedo, who then swiped second in the middle of the Ashley Elliot at bat, that resulted in a ground out.
Anderson led off the seventh with a single through the left side to complete her two-for-three day. A sacrifice bunt moved her to second and then Cordova grounded to second. The throw to first was slightly low but the first baseman could not keep the ball from glancing off the glove toward the UD first base dugout.
Kelly led UD with a perfect three-for-three game at the plate. Anderson had multiple hits and scored twice. Emily Martin (San Jose, Calif.) earned her first win of the season and threw a complete game. She struck out five for the second time in the series.
Austin was led at the plate by Preston with a two-for-three and two runs scored. Hannah Richendollar was saddled with the hard-luck loss, as she allowed eight hits, four runs (three earned).
Dallas did not commit an error, while the 'Roos had three.
Game 2 Information
Team Scores: Austin (12), Dallas (6)
Team Records: Austin (2-6), Dallas (2-5)
Pitcher Records: W) Maisonet (1-0), L) Watts (1-4)
Dallas and Austin College exchanged runs in the first inning. A double steal allowed the 'Roos to take the lead, and then UD cleanup hitter Kelly lofted a fly ball to center that helped score Anderson. Anderson helped lead to the next run for the Crusaders in the second, as she walked with the bases loaded to score Karina Campo (Georgetown, Texas). That was all for the home team.
Austin got the lead back in the next half inning with Preston tripling to right center. She scored on a groundout to second by Elliott.
Cordova doubled for the fourth time, one-per-game, this series with Green and Anderson coming in to flip the lead again at 4-3.
Austin College earned the next nine runs to expand the lead to 12-4. Elliott drove in the tying run on a ground out to knot things in the fifth. AC scored four times in the sixth to double the runs total. Two of the runs were unearned as an error kept things going for the 'Roos. Four more runs came across for Austin in the seventh. Atencio tripled to highlight the four hits that inning and also had an RBI on the first run.
UD did not go away quietly, as Coutts walked and then after an out there was Kelly reaching via an error and Karly Girod (Fort Worth, Texas) also reaching on a free pass to load the bases. Campo drove in one and Maggie Watts (Arcadia, La.) doubled to left field to wrap up the scoring.
Dallas was outhit 13-6, and committed three errors. The team drew nine walks led by Anderson with three and Coutts with two, who are the top pair in the lineup card. Three of the top four hitters scored a run and had an RBI. Watts allowed eight earned runs on 13 hits and three walks. She struck out two. The 'Roos swiped six bases in this game and 12 total between the two games.
Elliott walked seven and allowed four runs on four hits in 3.2 innings in the start. Alice Maisonet was credited the win after Austin broke the doors open in the top of the seventh.
Dallas is in the midst of a 10-game home stand, and host Centenary College on March 27-28 versus Centenary College. Start times are at 12 p.m. and it will be just a three-game series next weekend.