Monday, February 25, 2008

University of Dallas softball goes 3-1 in weekend play

By Pegasus News wire

UD 10-2, Austin College 7-1

Saturday’s doubleheader against Austin College turned out to be a great start for the Lady Crusaders, who started off the year with 2 wins.

Sophomore Rachel Hoelker (Sugar Land, TX/St. Agnes Academy) was the team’s first win of the 2008 season, and freshman Paige Bauer (Sante Fe, TX/Home School) recorded the save, while senior pitcher Belle Swaja (Hillsboro, OR/Hillsboro H.S.) went the distance and picked up the win in the second game. Hoelker struckout 3 batters in 6 innings, while Swaja struck out 1 batter and only allowed 1 run in pitching a complete game.

Leading the team in the first game was Hoelker with 3 runs, 3 hits, and 1 RBI, sophomore outfielder Amber Adams (Dallas, TX/Dallas Christian Academy) with 1 run, 2 hits, and 4 RBI, and sophomore utility Whitney Thomas (Fort Worth, TX/Nolan Catholic H.S.) with 1 run, 2 hits, and 2 RBI. Adding extra base hits were Hoelker and Thomas with doubles and Adams with a homerun. Swaja also had 1 stolen base.

In for the second game of the doubleheader, the offensive leaders were sophomore infielder Sharlie Staab (Hays, KS/TMP – Marian) who went 2-4 with 1 run and 1 RBI, Thomas who went 1-3 with 1 run, and Bauer who went 2-3 with 1 RBI. Swaja and sophomore infielder Lizzie Griffin (Anahuac, TX/Baytown Christian Academy) both hit doubles, while Staab hit a homerun.

UD 3, Concordia-Austin 0

In Sunday’s opening game of a doubleheader against Concordia University-Austin, the Lady Crusaders improved to 3-0 by picking up the winning, 6-3. Freshman Paige Bauer (Sante Fe, TX/Home School) started the game and added with win in 6 innings. She allowed 3 runs (2 earned) and struckout 2 batters. Sophomore Rachel Hoelker (Sugar Land, TX/St. Agnes Academy) relieved Bauer and pitched 1 scoreless inning in picking up the save. Hoelker also added 3 hits, drove in 1 run, and scored 2 times in 4 at bats. Bauer and sophomore Amber Adams (Dallas, TX/Dallas Christian Academy) each drove in 2 runs, while freshman Michaela Coughlin had the team’s other RBI.

Concordia-Austin 4, UD 2

The Lady Crusaders lost the second of the doubleheader played against Concordia University on Sunday in Irving, TX, 4-2. The teams played 2 extra innings after the score was tied 2-2 at the bottom of the 7th inning. However, Concordia scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th inning and shut out UD in the bottom of the frame to take the win. Freshman Michaela Coghlan (Dallas, TX/Bishop Dunne) started the game and struck out 11 batters during the 8 innings that she pitched. Freshman Sharlie Staab (Hays, KS/TMP-Marian) scored in the first inning to give the Crusaders an early lead, while sophomore Amber Adams (Dallas, TX/Dallas Christian High) score tied the game in the 6th inning. Whitney Thomas (Fort Worth, TX/Nolan Catholic) had 1 RBI and 2 hits. Jessica Swaja (Hillsboro, OR/Hillsboro H.S.) had 1 RBI and 1 hit. Sophomore Rachel Hoelker (Sugarland, TX/St. Agnes Academy) pitched the 9th inning for Coghlan.

UD is now 3-1, but hopes to improve during next weekend’s tournament hosted by LeTourneau University. They play their opening game against East Texas Baptist University on Friday at 11am in Longview, TX. The 3 other games during that weekend are against LeTourneau University on Friday at 4pm; UT-Tyler on Saturday, March 1st at 11pm; and Mount Mary College the same day at 6pm. The team then returns home for 2 games on March 2nd.

Source: UD

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