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Box Score 2 PLANO, Texas – The Dallas Christian College softball team prevailed for the first time in a home game this season and have won twice in the last four games after an 11-6 victory over Ecclesia College on Friday. This also was the first regional matchup for the Crusaders as these teams plan to battle four times over the next two days.
On what was a blustery day at John Paul II High School, the Crusaders battled back with five unanswered runs between the third and fourth to go up the remainder of the game. It was a game that both teams collected 13 hits, but DCC knocked seven for extra-bases including a two-run homer by
Zyian Bender that provided the necessary breathing room going to the last inning.
Game two was another high-scoring affair that has seen the Crusaders trying to play catchup throughout most of it. Due to the high school team having scheduled night games, play was suspended in the top of the seventh with Ecclesia up 13-11.
Play in that game will resume on Saturday around 11 a.m. The original doubleheader at 12 p.m. will follow about 30 minutes after it has been concluded.
Game 1 Recap (W, 11-6)
The Crusaders got on the board after a scoreless first inning with a pair of runs in the home half.
Maya Williamson smacked a double to center field and scored Makenzie Miller. Bender would beat an infield single that went to third.
Ecclesia got the score even in the top of the second with a two-run double by Chasity Schiltz. A third run would cross to give the guests its lone scoring swap for gaining the lead. Viviana Norman added a single in the third inning to push the advantage to 4-2.
DCC responded with a three-spot in the bottom part of the inning and never trailed the rest of the way. Miller clobbered a double to left field that scored
Jordyn Billodeaux. An error allowed Bender to reach and bring in Williamson for the tying run. Kayce McDowell swatted a double to left that scored Bender as the go-ahead run.
The Crusaders manufactured two more runs in the fourth inning, as Aniyah Dixon scored on an RBI-groundout by Billodeaux. Miller singled to center for the other RBI that inning.
The Royals got a run back in the sixth as Emily Threlkeld blasted a deep drive over dead centerfield's high wall to make it a 7-5 game.
DCC had a four-spot in the home sixth to allow plenty of room in the top of the seventh. Billodeaux tripled to right center and scored
Summer Hasfurter. Miller would drop in another single to center to cap a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate and drive in three runs. Of course, Bender matched that category with one swing to give her three long balls on the season and extend the lead to match a season-best six runs.
While Ecclesia threatened in the seventh and had a run on a sacrifice fly, it was
Trinity Johnson getting Guerrero with a foul-out to the catcher Miller along the first base line and securing the triumph.
Hasfurter, Bender, and McDowell joined Miller with multi-hit games by collecting two in four at-bats. The top five batters in the lineup: Hasfurter, Billodeaux, Miller, Williamson, and Bender scored two runs apiece.
We mentioned the amount of extra-base hits earlier, but DCC had five doubles, which included two by McDowell and one by Dixon which occurred in the fourth inning. Hasfurter galloped for the other triple in the game. DCC had three steals as a team with Billodeaux, Williamson, and Bender each swiping one.
Johnson tossed a stellar 4.2 innings of relief with two runs earned on seven hits. She walked one and struck out three. She has been credited wins in both DCC victories this season and is 2-1.
Ecclesia's trio of pitchers did not allow a walk. Brynna McGuire was charged the loss in 2.2 innings of the start. Norman led the hitters with a 3-for-4 game, while Threlkeld had the other multi-RBI game with a pair. The Royals swiped four bases and had one caught stealing. The double and homer mentioned above were the only extra-base hits.
Both teams committed three errors, but the windy conditions added to the defensive challenges, as several fly balls were affected by the wind and made difficult to catch. The wind generally was blowing toward right center or right field.
Game 2 Recap (L, 13-11)
This game would start out in favor of the Royals with a three-run first. However, the Crusaders greeted Ecclesia's starter Adriana Weaver with four runs on four hits. She only had retired one batter before was lifted. Miller started things with a double to right that plated Billodeaux. Bender doubled into the right field corner and then after a pitching change, it was McDowell that sent a liner to left field for her second home run at that stadium in the past three days. She had also homered over the highest part of center field in game one on Wednesday to Bacone College.
Unfortunately, the Crusaders would end up having to play catchup after a five-run second inning happened for the visitors. Eventually down 9-5 in the third, the Crusaders got a pair of runs back in the third inning. McDowell grounded out for her team-leading fourth RBI. Dixon reached on an error that allowed Weatherly to score.
DCC would come within a run two more occasions, as Bender grounded out to short for an RBI that plated Miller in the fourth.
The Royals answered with two more runs in the fifth. DCC got them back as Dixon singled and an error helped her get into scoring position on the same play. Hasfurter grounded out to second and the deficit was cut to 11-10. A triple by Madison Wiggins would prove to be the difference. Her RBI hit made it a two-run game. She would come in on a sacrifice fly to make it 13-10.
With time against them due to host site John Paul II High School having games that evening, DCC would rally in the sixth for a run. However could not come any closer. The game was suspended, but would take 15 minutes on Saturday to finish the last inning. Hasfurter escaped potential trouble by stranding a runner at third, and just missed a homer with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. She settled for a long single, but DCC would go down without any further threat.
This was a game that combined for 24 runs, 30 hits, and nine errors. DCC's leading hitter was Billodeaux with a 3-for-5 game. Miller added a 2-for-3 and was 6-for-7 in the twinbill. Williamson, Bender, and Weatherly also collected multi-hit games. Billodeaux, Miller, Bender, and Weatherly each had a double. Bender picked up a triple for her other base knock.
Johnson battled with 3.2 innings and two earned runs allowed. She surrendered eight hits and five runs to go with a walk. The right-hander did induce seven groundouts on a day balls in the air were ill-advised.
Ecclesia was led by Knox with a 3-for-5 game that included a double and triple and three runs. Gabby Moore was 3-for-3 with a team-high three runs-batted-in and three runs scored. Six hits were for extra bases, as Moore also went deep. The team swiped six bases.
Gayle earned the win with 6.2 innings of relief. She gave up seven runs on 10 hits, but four of the runs were earned. She struck out a pair and walked one. The winning pitcher got 10 outs on the ground.
This series wrapped up Saturday with a doubleheader.
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