PLANO, Texas – The Dallas Christian College softball team played its first home games at John Paul II High School on Tuesday, March 22, at 11 a.m. versus NAIA University of the Southwest out of New Mexico. This was a historic date, as DCC softball played its first home games after the weather forced a relocation from its original Oran Park site in Farmers Branch, Texas.
It was frigid temperatures, but the field was playable due to being a turf surface. The Crusaders appreciated the hospitality of the staff at JP II. Both games were the closest DCC had played in its inaugural campaign. The Crusaders have had a tough schedule that included recent NCAA Division II Texas Woman's University and NAIA University of Houston-Victoria.
DCC made great strides against the Broncos, taking a one-run lead twice in the early innings of game one. The Crusaders also put together their highest scoring output in game two with nine total runs that was highlighted by five in the first inning. However, DCC came out with a pair of setbacks on the day.
Game 1 (6-4, L)
Down 2-0 in the second inning, the Crusaders got on the board thanks to a dropped by the opposing team's center fielder.
Jackie Gutierrez, who was a courtesy runner for catcher
Mikenzie Miller, tallied the first DCC run at that ball field.
Jordyn Billodeaux singled up the middle later that inning to score
Rhionnon Weatherly and
Kaycee McDowell to put the Crusaders up 3-2.
The Harker Heights, Texas, native led off for the Crusaders and had a 2-for-4 game with those two runs-batted-in and added a run scored. McDowell was the other Crusader with a multi-hit game.
The Broncos were able to get three runs in the next half inning, as the guests took a 5-3 edge.
Maya Williamson had a double to right-center that plated Billodeaux in the fifth inning. Billodeaux ignited the rally with her speed with an infield single to second base and then stole second with no outs. After a pop up that led to one out, the short stop got to third on a steal. After the two-bagger by Williamson, the next two Crusaders hit into infield outs and left it at a one-run deficit.
A leadoff double for the Broncos spelled trouble for DCC, as they got a run back with back-to-back hits. A single by Arianna Campa scored the final run of the game, as DCC went down in order in the final six outs.
Miller knocked the other extra-base hit for a double which had come in her first at bat. She had one of the team's two walks. DCC collected seven hits total.
Summer Hasfurter went a complete game and worked around nine hits and four earned runs. She struck out two and walked one. The right-hander induced 14 groundball outs.
Sierra Flores went the distance for the Broncos in the circle and allowed two earned runs on seven hits. She walked two and struck out one.
Game 2 (13-9, L) (F/8)
After allowing a run in the first inning of game two, the Crusader bats got rolling thanks to a couple of defensive miscues. Three of the four errors by the Broncos came in the bottom of the first, as the home side gained a 5-1 advantage. This was the most runs scored in a single-inning this campaign and also marked the largest lead in the young program's history. The Crusaders batted around with Billodeaux being walked and Hasfurter being hit by a pitch. The next two batters reached via errors and the score was tied at 1. Zyion Bender had the lone hit of the inning with an infield single to short stop. It was going to be a difficult play to get an out, but an ill-advised throw got away and allowed three runs to cross. A wild pitch would score Bender later with an out.
University of the Southwest answered with four runs in the second to knot the score again.
This was a back-and-forth contest with two more runs coming for DCC in the bottom of the second to give the lead back to the home team. Another error allowed Williamson to reach and
Leighianne Dale, who had pinch ran on a
Trinity Johnson single would steal second to get into scoring position. Hasfurter scored the final run of the inning, just making it on a sacrifice fly to left field. An out would be made at second base, as the throw went to a trailing runner advancing. Thankfully the run had counted before the putout.
Both teams traded runs in the fourth inning. Miller got a sacrifice fly that plated Dale, who had ran for Johnson again. This made it an 8-6 advantage.
University of the Southwest scratched a run in the fifth to make it a one-run deficit. With the tying run at first, Hasfurter got a strikeout looking to hold the lead.
DCC had a runner at second with one-out, but could not make any more advancement. An infield single to the pitcher by Broncos leadoff hitter Felicity Villanueva spelled trouble in the sixth. She stole second and came in on a hit by Madison Ganaway to level the score. With the bases loaded, Aubrey Ramos had an RBI groundout put the guests back on top a run. There was no further damage though as two runners in scoring position were left.
Williamson got a sacrifice fly out to left that scored Billodeaux to bring the score to nine runs apiece in the home sixth. It was a walk that started the inning. She moved to second on a ground out and then stole third. Miller would double down the left field line, but a fly out to right stranded her there.
With a 1-2-3 seventh, DCC was in position for a walk-off victory. A one-out walk to McDowell got things going. She would get to second on the second out, which was a ground ball to third. The utility player would make a gutsy call to swipe third and made it safely. Unfortunately she was 60 feet away with the last out being made.
Teams agreed to do the international tiebreaker rule by placing the last batter of the previous inning on second. University of the Southwest gained control with a four-run eighth and would hang on for the sweep.
The Crusaders only had four hits, but made the most of the opportunities to gather nine runs. They also worked around allowing 13 hits. Miller and Bender had the lone extra base hits, while three Crusaders each had a stolen base. Hasfuter was hit by a pitch twice. Billodeaux walked three times, while Williamson, Miller, and Bender combined for all four RBI in the 3-5 spots of the batting order. Six different Crusaders scored a run.
Hannah Mattingley got the start and tossed 1.2 innings, while
Trinity Johnson followed with 2.1 innings of one run allowed. Hasfurter logged another four innings to give her 11 on the day. All three pitchers had a strikeout and Hasfurter would spin seven more groundouts versus four fly outs.
Lia Gutierrez earned the win with five innings of relief work. She gave up two runs on one hit and worked around five walks and hit batter. Mikayla Martinez was 3-for-4 with three RBI, and Ramos also had three runs driven in. Ganaway was the leader in runs scored with three.
Dallas Christian prepares for a busy three-day week that includes a prospect game at John Paul II High School on Feb. 28 versus Murray State College. The Crusaders then head to start March at Southwestern Assemblies of God University and Mid-America Christian University.
"Dallas Christian educates and mentors students to be people of influence engaging in their calling to the work of Christ in the church and in the world."
