Crusaders swept by Centenary on Sunday
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas softball team concluded a four-game series with Centenary College on Sunday. After tying things at one run apiece in the third inning, Centenary surged ahead with six runs in the fourth inning of game one. Game two was a 2-0 battle until the guests pulled away with eight runs combined in the sixth and seventh. Dallas would be outscored 19-3 on the afternoon.
Game 1 Information
Team Scores: Centenary (9), Dallas (2)
Team Records: Centenary (10-10, 7-0 SCAC), Dallas (5-20, 0-11 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) Nichole Aldridge (3-3), L) Martin (0-4)
Both teams posted double-digit hit totals, with the Ladies holding a 16-10 advantage. After two relatively quite innings, Centenary used a couple bunts to produce the first run in the third inning, as Teri Johnson scored from second on a Payton LeBlanc single to third. She raced home beating the relay throw. The bases were left stranded as Emily Martin (San Jose, Calif.) navigated the trouble with a ground out to shortstop.
Julie Duenas (Houston, Texas) cranked a two-out double to right center in the third inning. Liz Cordova evened the score at 1-all with a double of her own. Duenas finished with a 4-for-4 game to lead the Crusaders, and she tallied the other UD extra-base hit with a double.
Centenary clobbered five hits and sent seven batters to the plate in a row to start a six-run fourth that resulted in 10 being sent to the plate. Margeaux Smith etched the fourth single in a row to make a 2-1 lead. LeBlanc walked for the second RBI by Centenary, and Erin Lewis banged a three-run double to left field.
The Ladies finished the scoring with two more runs in the sixth. Each team committed one error. Duenas led the Dallas hitting, with the first seven starters getting into the hits column. Caitlyn Stevenson (Henderson, Nev.) scored UD's other run on an RBI-single down the right field line to bring in Duenas.
Martin was charged her fourth loss on the week, as she gave up five runs on nine hits in three innings. Karina Campo (Georgetown, Texas) returned and gave up the last four runs, while being hit seven times to go with three walks. Her four strikeouts matched a season-best a third occasion.
Haley Campbell led the Ladies offense with a 3-for-4 with two runs-batted-in and run scored. LeBlanc was perfect at the plate (2-2) with three ribbies to tie Erin Lewis. Lewis doubled for the team's lone extra-base hit and also drove in three. Johnson scored twice and was perfect at the plate with a 2-for-2.
Nichole Aldridge fanned seven hitters and threw a complete game with 10 hits, two runs, and no walks allowed.
Game 2 Information
Team Scores: Centenary (10), Dallas (1)
Team Records: Centenary (11-10, 8-0 SCAC), Dallas (5-21, 0-12 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) Amberlee Nix (4-5), (L) Watts (0-3)
In game two, Maggie Watts (Arcadia, Texas) stranded the bases loaded with a groundout to second. She retired six straight until Lewis doubled to left center. Wendy Gillet doubled to center to break the scoreless game. Sydney Hurley singled Gillet home to wrap up the scoring.
It was enough to get by, as the Crusaders posted seven hits overall.
Centenary notched four unearned runs in the sixth. Hurley and Becca McGough had RBI before Lewis plated two more runs, and Gillet tripled for the team's last hit for extra-bases. The Ladies did tally four hits that inning, and used another quartet of runs and hits in the seventh to wrap up the scoring for the guests.
Cordova notched an RBI with a single to right center to start the sixth. Carah Delao (League City, Texas) scored the run as a pinch runner, as Blyss Johnson (Wells, Texas) led the frame off by reaching on an error. Other than Duenas (2-4) having a multi-hit day, the Crusaders had Johnson, Cordova, Bri Torres (Cypress, Texas), Campo, and Mel Savala (Bryan, Texas) smack hits.
Watts gave up two earned runs on 10 hits in the home start. Lindsay Devlin (Leander, Texas) and Watts had the lone strikeouts on their team.
The Ladies collected 16 hits for the second game in a row on the weekend. Johnson tagged three hits and drove in two. Gillet finished with two hits and three RBI. Lewis added a 2-for-4 with two runs driven in and scored. Smith added a 2-for-3 with pair of runs scored.
The team combined for six stolen bases.
Amberlee Nix went five innings and did not allow an earned run while getting four strikeous. Mackenzie Stewart and Hannah Scoggin finished the game with an inning pitched apiece.
UP NEXT
Dallas is on the road for conference next weekend at Trinity University. First pitch on Saturday is 1 p.m. The Crusaders finish the brief road series on Sunday with a 1 p.m. start. Those games will be here.