'Roo Softball Earns Big Win in Home Opener

SHERMAN, Texas – Austin College used a high-powered offensive attack to secure an 11-3 run-rule victory over the University of Dallas in six innings on Friday night at Sherman High School in game one of a three-game Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference set. The 'Roos are now 2-4 overall and 2-2 in SCAC play, while Dallas falls to 0-3 overall and the same mark in conference action.

After a scoreless opening frame, Austin College jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Tessa Contreras hit a sacrifice fly to center to plate Jadyn Myers, and Brooklen Crider followed with an RBI single to plate Cheyenne Fields. The Crusaders got both runs back in the top of the third, as Aliyah Valdez and Abby Lasley each drove in a run to square things at two runs apiece.

That remained the score until the bottom of the fourth, when Contreras launched a three-run homer over the wall in left to make it 5-2, and after UD plated one more in the top of the fifth off the bat of Lasley, the 'Roos erupted for four more runs in the bottom of the inning to push the margin to 9-3. Myers got things going with a two-run double down the line in left, and Contreras added to her big game at the dish with an RBI single. Crider brought home the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly.

Lauren Trott ripped an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth to make it a nine-run game, and one batter later, Reagan Brinkley ended things early when she drove a ball deep into the gap in right center, plating Trott in the process and winding up with a walk-off triple to make it 11-3. McKinley Hankins got the win for Austin College, giving up three runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings of work, and Kristiana Guerra took the loss for UD following 4.1 innings pitched with eight runs on 11 hits.

Contreras finished the game 2-for-2 with five RBI to pace the 'Roos offensively, and Crider and Myers each had two hits and two runs driven in. Myers also scored three times, while Jillian Kelly was 3-for-3 and scored twice. Brinkley finished the game 2-for-4. Valdez was 2-for-3 to lead the Crusaders and Lasley was 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI.

Austin College and Dallas wrap up the series on Saturday, as they'll play a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Sherman High.