PLANO, Texas – The Dallas Christian College softball team dropped a doubleheader to NAIA Jarvis Christian College on Monday afternoon at John Paul II High School. 13 runs across two innings helped the Bulldogs earn a run-rule victory in the opener, despite DCC compiling seven runs on 12 hits.
In game two, the Crusaders were limited to just a pair of runs, as they pitched and played their best defense in the last four home games. DCC also outhit the visitors by one, but could not find the key knock to make up the deficit.
Game 1 (L, 15-7) (F/5)
Both teams traded a pair of runs in the first inning. Down 2-0 after escaping what could have been a bigger frame, the Crusaders got going with the top three hitters in the lineup reaching on hits. Makenzie Miller, who was named
NCCAA Softball Student-Athlete of the Week, would stay hot with a two-run double to left field.
Jordyn Billodeaux and
Summer Hasfurter scored on the play.
Jarvis Christian bounced back with a five-run second inning to expand the lead to 7-2. It was a bit of a frustrating inning, as an error got erased by a double play. Three of the next four batters walked to break the tie and then a base hit stretched the margin to three runs. An error allowed the last two runs to come in and wrap up the big frame.
DCC responded with another big inning, as Leighanne Dale singled to center field and made it to second on a bad throw. The freshman outfielder came home on a double by Hasfurter in the left field gap. Billodeaux dropped a triple down the left field line, as flipping Hasfurter and Billodeaux at 1 and 2 on the day was already paying off twice with the tandem getting on via hits.
Zyian Bender popped a leadoff home run in the third inning, her second in as many games cut the score to 7-5 and chased the Bulldogs starting pitcher from the game. Bender also had homered in game two of Saturday's doubleheader with Sterling College. She is trying not to be out shadowed by Miller, who had three on the same day, but now Bender has two overall.
The Bulldogs would score the next eight runs in the fourth to put the game out of reach.
DCC plated a run in all five innings, as the team got Dale to score on a wild pitch in the fourth. Dale struck a hard double to center field for the team's other extra base hit not mentioned.
Kaycee McDowell scored the remaining run for the Crusaders in the fifth, as
Rhionnon Weatherly singled her in. A double play ended the game, as the Crusaders could not cut the gap under eight runs after five innings.
Hasfurter and Billodeaux each were 2-for-3 and had an RBI. Hasfurter would score two runs. Weatherly and Dale had the other multi-hit games, and Dale was able to get home twice along with the team's leadoff hitter. Eight of the team's nine batters recorded a base knock.
Both teams gave up six earned runs. Hasfurter was able to log 3.1 innings in the start as she worked around five walks and a hit batter in addition to eight hits. She did strike out a pair and got six ground outs.
Trinity Johnson pitched the remaining 1.2 innings and allowed an unearned run on five hits. All nine batters she faced had an at bat.
Yasmine Rivera would get the win by pitching three innings of relief and stopping the DCC comeback. The hitters for Jarvis Christian were good with 13 hits. A trio in the 2 through 4 spots would go a combined 8-for-10 with seven RBI and seven runs scored.
Game 2 (L, 4-2)
The Crusaders would find themselves down in the early innings again with a two-spot in the first. Both runs were unearned as a throwing error had extended the inning and allowed both runs to cross. There was a single through the right side to bring the third run home in the second inning.
Billodeaux, who went 3-for-4, got a one-out double in the first inning but was left stranded there. DCC would get a walk in the second and bunt single by Billodeaux in the third, but could not get a runner past third. The short stop for the Crusaders in the third would swipe a steal. However the Crusaders were not generating much until the fourth.
Still down three, Bender singled to third base and
Maya Williamson doubled to left center to score breakthrough. Williamson was out at third trying to stretch the play, but she was tagged out on a bang-bang play. Two more hits by Kacie McDowell and Weatherly would get the Crusaders another chance to add runs.
Katherine Hanks grounded out to score McDowell, who aggressively swiped third base and got in position to make it a 3-2 game.
JCC answered with a run in the fifth by getting a run on a wild pitch. The lone hit and baserunner was the leadoff hitter, Jaelyn Nuncio. She stole second and moved to third on a groundout before coming home on the errant pitch.
Billodeaux stayed hot by pulling a single through the right side. However, she was stranded at second as the next two hitters grounded out.
The Crusaders avoided a two-out triple in the sixth to hold the 4-2 margin, but other than a walk to Hasfurter did not have a baserunner in the final two innings to bat. Billodeaux made the final out for her lone one of the day to hit into as the Bulldogs' pitcher Rivera made the final grab and toss to end things.
Rivera went seven innings and scattered seven hits. She struck out three and walked two, but was able to spin 17 groundouts and no flyouts.
Hanks delivered her first complete seven inning game with three earned runs on six hits. She fanned four batters and walked just one. She also got 10 groundouts.
Bender has recorded a hit in all six varsity games at DCC's home field, John Paul II.
Dallas Christian is on the road for the rest of the week playing two junior colleges in doubleheaders that will be "Prospect Games." Things continue at Galveston College on Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Mar. 19 at Clarendon College at 12 p.m.
The next varsity games will be on Mar. 22 at Jarvis Christian College at 2 p.m.
"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."
