PLANO, Texas – It was a fun day for the first-year Dallas Christian College softball program, who advanced to the NDAG Softball Regional Championship on Saturday after defeating top-seeded Arlington Baptist University, 10-4, on Friday evening at John Paul II High School.
The Crusaders smacked three home runs and three doubles to highlight a 15-hit game that had the number-two seed never trailed. DCC broke out with a four-run first in the top of the inning, since they were playing the number-one seed Arlington Baptist University.
"We came together as a team and did not let anything stop us. Unstoppable," is how Summer Hasfurter described the Crusaders Softball play in its regional debut.
Mikenzie Miller delivered another 3-for-3 day at the plate with three runs on three RBI, while
Kaycee McDowell matched her three runs-batted-in thanks to a home run that capped consecutive double-digit scoring games for the Crusaders.
Summer Hasfurter lined her first collegiate home run in the fifth to widen a narrow lead to 5-2 and Miller had a two-run homer into left-center that had capped a three-run fifth.
"Had a better mentality about ourselves," McDowell answered when asked what was different about DCC's confidence.
The Patriots struck back quickly with two runs in the first inning and kept things tight. Despite being behind 7-2, the top-seed got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth and seemed to be a couple swings away from getting back into the game.
The difference at times seemed like DCC's fly balls landed over the wall, while the Patriots had a couple hit off the wall or get caught at the warning track. McDowell had the final blow in the sixth with her third big fly of the campaign.
"I told the players to find their spark in the first game and that carried over throughout the day," Hasfurter said on inspiring the team in the huddles to play hard on Friday and seeing the results.
Jordyn Billodeaux matched team-highs in hits and runs with three apiece. She joined
Anyiah Dixon and
Maya Williamson with doubles, as the Crusaders finished with six extra-base hits.
Trinity Johnson earned her second win with 4.1 innings, while allowing four runs on nine hits.
Katherine Hanks threw the final 2.2 innings. Neither pitcher for DCC allowed a walk nor struck out an ABU hitter. The Patriots did hit into 14 fly outs.
Getting back to the play of the game was perhaps the start of the fifth inning. DCC led by two runs, but the Patriots had threats in the second through fourth innings where the margin felt threatened. After ABU's top pitcher McHailee Danner had seemly kept the game in order, Hasfurter laced a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence. Hasfurter spoke afterwards about her frustration of not going yard yet, and had even discussed with Head Coach
Pat Hallahan about not having gotten one yet. He was showing empathy toward his leadoff hitter about understanding how she had not clobbered one. She had the best mindset though.
"Maybe God has a plan for me. And I told him [Coach Hallahan] that maybe in the Regional that maybe God will be like your time is now. That home run helped us in a crucial moment," Hasfurter praised.
Dallas Christian will play the second game on Saturday against the winner of Ecclesia College and Arlington Baptist, which starts at 12 p.m. The Royals eliminated the number-four seed Southeastern Baptist College in game three on Friday.
"I am a little nervous but really excited. We worked hard for this," McDowell concluded on describing feelings from today's wins and an opportunity to make history.
If Dallas Christian wins, they will be the champions. Its opponent will have to win three elimination games tomorrow to take the title.
The schedule, which includes ordering online tickets can be found
here. All games can be streamed on
College TV Ticket.
"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."
