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UD Softball Season Preview

quicklook

The University of Dallas softball team opens the 2019 season this week with four contests at home versus Southwestern College (KS) on February 15 and Hendrix College on February 17. Caitlynn Dykes begins her first season leading the Crusaders as the seventh head coach of the program. Dykes returns to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) after playing four years (2012-15) with Trinity University.

Dallas carries a roster of 19 this season. There are nine letterwinners from a season ago back that include seniors Mel Savala and Tera Espinosa. Julie Duenas was a SCAC All-Conference Honorable Mention. 10 freshmen join the squad this spring and several could make an impact in the lineup and on the field.

The Crusaders will be looking to qualify for the SCAC Tournament a seventh straight season, which will be held at Centenary College on April 26-28. Dallas has earned the fifth and sixth seeds the past two respective seasons after being the number three seed in 2016 and 2015 (Both 20-game winning seasons overall).

POSITIONAL BREAKDOWN

Catchers

Dallas returns Katelyn Lazarek behind the backstop. The junior has played in 34 contests over two seasons with 21 in 2018. She recorded four hits in 16 at bats, with one of them counting for a double and RBI in the first round of the SCAC Tournament versus Centenary College. Madison Coutts is a freshman that will share time at the backstop position. She had a hit and RBI in game two of UD's Fall Ball Game against Southwestern Assemblies of God.

infielders

Mentioned earlier, Savala and Espinosa will provide the senior leadership on the team and both have made an impact on the infield. Savala was an All-SCAC Honorable Mention in 2016 and has been one of the team's top hitters in each of her three seasons. Last year she laced four triples to match a team-high and drove in 14. Espinosa has provided an above average glove at first base.

Duenas projects to play on the opposite corner of the diamond at third base. She returns to the team as the leader last season in doubles (6) and on base percentage (.389). Caitlyn Stevenson is a sophomore that made appearances at second base and in the outfield. Stevenson posted a .295 batting average, double, two triples, and homer in her first collegiate season. Her 11 stolen bases were highest on the team and she returns with the most base knocks last year with 37.

Brianna Hale played at short in both Fall Ball games. Other newcomers vying for time that could be playing infield include: Blyss Johnson, Lindsay Devlin, and Yared Cortez.

outfielders

Leading the Crusaders in the outfield is Liz Cordova in center. She studied in Rome last fall, but is back to hopefully build on a strong freshman season. She is the leading returner in batting average (.300), runs-batted-in (19), and home runs (3). She tied Duenas with six doubles and was two hits shy (37) of Stevenson for most among returners.

Mackenzie Tano will have one of the corner outfield spots. She tied Savala for the team lead last season in triples with four. She tied fourth on the team in RBI (15). Tano does bring versatility to the field as she got named 2017 All-SCAC 2nd Team Utility.

A freshman that will be looked to for creating a spark out there this year is Carah Delao. She tripled and notched two ribbies inthe second Fall Ball game.

Bri Torres is another outfielder listed competing for time, while Stevenson, Emily Martin, and Espinsoa all have shifted to those spots in the past.

pitchers

Perhaps the biggest group of pitchers enter this season for Coach Dykes with six. Maggie Watts was the team leader in 2018 with 137.1 innings in 29 outings (20 starts). She won five games and posted a 4.79 ERA. Despite being in Rome last fall, Watts should lead the team in the circle again this season. In her first season she did earn SCAC Pitcher of the Week after grabbing three wins in a single four-game series at Austin College.

Martin is the other returner on staff with 11 appearances and a 3.86 ERA through 13.1 innings last season. Paige Rasmussen, Karina Campo, and Haley Henson lead the freshmen group that will seek innings on the rubber. Devlin did pitch three innings in game one of Fall Ball.

worth noting

  • Dallas led the SCAC last season with 16 triples
  • The Crusaders were third in the league in walks (104) and just one free pass behind Centenary for second. Duenas and Tano combined for 29 of them.
  • Dallas walked only 59 opponents.
  • Watts hurled 13 of the team's 21 complete games.
  • Dallas went 46-for-55 in stolen bases. 12 different players on that team made a steal and half of them are back.
  • The Crusaders won five games at home.

mark your calendars

  • February 15 vs. Southwestern College: Marks the season and home opener for Coach Dykes. These programs will meet for the first time in school history.
  • February 17 vs. Hendrix College: The annual series at UD will continue for the fourth season in a row. Dallas has won five of 33 all-time meetings, but earned two of those wins in the last three doubleheaders.
  • March 16-17 vs. Schreiner University: First home SCAC series of the season. Also will open a busy 10-game stretch in the friendly confines. Dallas is 10-15 against the Mountaineers overall.
  • March 23-24 vs. Centenary College: Another conference series at home and caps the lengthy 10-game home stand. Dallas has gone 11-16 against the Ladies, having dropped five straight. The last head-to-head win was in Irving when UD swept the second doubleheader of the series.
  • April 6-7 vs. Austin College: The lone home series of the month and will have "Senior Day" for Savala and Espinosa. The Crusaders have gone 33-25 against Austin, marking the most wins and only softball program in the league they have a winning record against. Since 2015, UD has gone 13-3 in head-to-head games.

how to follow

Website: udallasathletics.com

Twitter: @UDallasSports

Facebook: University of Dallas Athletics (Official)

Instagram: udallasathletics

Facebook: University of Dallas Softball

Instagram: udallas_softball

Twitter: @UDallasSoftball

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