PLANO, Texas – The Dallas Christian College softball team earned a doubleheader sweep on Saturday, which gave the program back-to-back wins for the first time in history. It also ensured the team's first-ever series win, going 3-1 versus Ecclesia College. These were over a conference foe that could be a potential opponent in the regional tournament later this month.
Game one was all about
Rhionnon Weatherly. The freshman out of Port Arthur, Texas, smoked the program's first grand slam toward right-center field in the third inning to cap a six-run frame. This opened a 7-1 advantage that would be enough to give the team a win. The Royals did find runs in the sixth and seventh, but Weatherly's first career blast was the difference.
Game two was a rollercoaster, as DCC jumped out to a 4-run advantage highlighted by three runs in the second. Ecclesia seemed to steal the momentum, as four runs in the third propelled a streak of nine unanswered runs through the next four top-half innings. The Crusaders were resilient with a six-run sixth and held on for their second, one-run win of the year. DCC has won 4-of-7 games and this latest victory was the largest come-from-behind win.
The home team scored double-digits in three of the four games this weekend.
Game 1 Recap: (W, 7-3)
Ecclesia got on the board first in the second inning, as Viviana Norman laced a single to right field and scored Gabby Moore.
The Crusaders got the score even with
Cassidy Jordan singling on a liner the opposite way to right center. Kacyee McDowell would score.
Anyiah Dixon notched the go-ahead RBI with a single to left, and
Summer Hasfurter singled to right to plate Jordan. DCC tried to be aggressive with a delay steal, but Ecclesia was able to execute a nice counter on the play with its second baseman cutting the throw and getting Dixon at home. A groundout ended the inning.
DCC would re-ignite the offense in the next inning, as Miller and Williamson reached on hits to start the inning. Bender walked. A fielder's choice would get the force at home for one out, but Weatherly ripped the game-changing blast.
That was enough support for DCC starting pitcher, Hasfurter. She earned her first winning decision with a complete game and was charged three runs on seven hits. She did now allow a walk and struck out two.
Eight different players recorded a hit and everyone was on base once. McDowell, who was the lone DCC player to not get a hit; scored two runs along with Weatherly for a team-most. Williamson logged the only other extra-base hit besides the grand slam, which was the double three batters prior. Hasfurter and McDowell would each get steals.
The Royals committed more errors, 4-2. They also were able to generate a trio of doubles as part of their seven hits. Savanah Gayle came in to prevent any further damage with 3.2 shutout innings. She struck out one and walked none, while allowing three hits.
Game 2 Recap: (W, 10-9)
The Crusaders took the early lead with a run in the first. They would expand with three in the second inning. Errors were helpful, as all three of those runs in that inning were unearned.
Hannah Mattingley made the start and was able to work out of a bases-loaded first. She did strikeout the side and also posted her first four outs as punch outs. They were the right-handers only four of the game.
Ecclesia was able to level the score with four runs in the third. A bases-clearing double off new reliever Hasfurter would highlight the inning. However a good play by DCC's defense got her leaning past third and ended the inning. The bases had been loaded though and all runs made it home before the final putout.
The Royals seemed to be getting all the breaks, as they added a run in the fourth and fifth. The sixth was when things seemed to unravel with three runs to push the edge to 9-4.
Weatherly worked a leadoff walk and then an error between the third baseman's legs allowed two on and no outs. Dixon hit a hard groundball to third, but a diving stab by the defender allowed her to get the first out at third. Jordan used her speed to get to third with a steal and put runners on the corners with one away. Hasfurter doubled into the left-center gap to score a run. Billodeaux had the next big hit with a two-RBI seeing-eye single just past a diving first and second basemen. Billodeaux, who is the leader in steals thanks to her blazing speed would go to second on the throw home.
Eccelsia finally removed Brynna McGuire, who had settled in after a rocky start, for Gayle who was working in the fourth game of the series. Billodeaux stole third, which proved huge due to what happened next. Miller would strikeout swinging, but the ball was in the dirt and a play was at first. Miller reached safely and Billodeaux had streaked home to nip the deficit to a run (9-8). The Crusaders would fly out to left for the second out, instead of what should have been the end of the inning.
Bender on an 0-1 pitch, would drive a triple into left-center and Miller hustled home. It was a bang-bang play for the catcher, but the umpire ruled safe and it was confirmed once the Ecclesia catcher was unable to hold onto the ball. That game was tied at nine, and McDowell followed on a line drive single to center that plated Bender. After two outs in the top of the seventh, Emily Threlkeld drove a deep ball off the left field wall for a double. Madison Knox, who had been 4-for-4 at that point, would be called out on a tight play at first, but an outstretched Weatherly secured the ball and had DCC celebrating the exciting finish.
DCC was outhit 11-10, but had a trio of multi-hit players which was the top three hitters in the lineup. Billodeaux scored a team-high three runs and was the only batter with multiple runs driven in. The first six batters for DCC did drive in at least one. Bender tripled for the second time this series. Jordan swiped two steals and the team had three.
The team's combined for 11 errors, with the Royals committing six of them.
Trinity Johnson, who worked in three games this weekend, would earn the win in relief with two innings. Her record is now 3-1, as she has been in relief in two of the games this series. Hasfurter got the most outs with 2.2 innings, and only one of her four runs allowed were earned. The five strikeouts by the staff were a season-most.
Ecclesia was led offensively by Knox as mentioned in hitting. Wiggins batted in five runs, while a quartet of players scored twice each. The team wacked a trio of doubles. Knox also made her name noticeable in the box score with a pair of base thefts.
McGuire tossed 5.1 innings in the start. She had started game one of this series and was lifted early after the Crusaders had gotten to her. In this outing, she settled in for 5.1 innings. Three runs of the eight she was charged were earned.
Dallas Christian is on the road for Our Lady of the Lake University on Sunday. First pitch is at 12 p.m. Livestats and video will be available for the games. Please check on the schedule/results page.
"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."
