Softball opened their SCAC series with Dallas taking the first two games with commanding victories.
Game 1 UST 8 UD 0
St. Thomas set the tone early in the first inning when Rebecca Archibald's single brought in the opening run.
In the second inning, St. Thomas added three more runs to their tally. Lindsey Gonzalez's groundout drove in Isabelle Charles, while Delayne Moreno's steal of second base turned into a run as Gabby Davila stole home. Archibald's sacrifice bunt then allowed Moreno to score, extending St. Thomas' lead to 4-0.
St. Thomas continued their offensive onslaught in the third inning as Chloe Bennett's single brought home another run.
The fourth inning saw St. Thomas capitalize on defensive errors, with Izabella Hernandez's groundout bringing in Davila, who scored on a fielding error by the third baseman. Jaelyn Simmons then hammered a double to center field, driving in Archibald and Moreno, extending St. Thomas' lead to 8-0.
Pitcher Allison Hughes showcased her dominance on the mound, holding Dallas scoreless throughout the game. Hughes pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only five hits while striking out none.
Game 2 UST 6 UD 2
St. Thomas wasted no time taking the lead in the first inning. Jaelyn Simmons blasted a triple to center field, driving in Rebecca Archibald. Chloe Bennett then capitalized on the opportunity to steal second base, allowing Simmons to dash home, giving St. Thomas a 2-0 advantage.
Dallas responded in the third inning, with Lizette Sosa getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing in Bre Barnes and cutting St. Thomas' lead to 2-1.
However, St. Thomas extended their lead again in the bottom of the third when Jaelyn Simmons grounded out to shortstop, allowing Archibald to score.
In the fifth inning, St. Thomas added to their lead as Archibald's steal of home and Haley Lupian's steal of second both resulted in runs.
St. Thomas further solidified their lead in the fifth inning. Chloe Bennett's single to center field drove in Simmons and Lupian, extending St. Thomas' lead to 6-1.
Dallas managed to score one more run in the seventh inning when Isabella Halsey scored on a passed ball after advancing to third base on a hit by Lizette Sosa.
Pitcher Victoria Sossaman led St. Thomas' defensive effort, allowing only one earned run over six innings while striking out three batters. Lauren Trott closed the game for St. Thomas, allowing one unearned run in the seventh inning.
St. Thomas' strong offensive performance and solid pitching secured them a decisive victory over Dallas.
