Lady Bleu Devils 7th Inning Rally isn't enough to Secure Victory

NEW ORLEANS– Dallas Christian erupted for 18 runs on 18 hits and survived a wild seventh-inning push by Dillard (LA) to claim an 18–12 win Saturday afternoon (Jan. 31, 2026) at Dillard University.


Dallas Christian struck first in the top of the first when G. Carrillo roped an RBI double to score J. Saucedo for a 1–0 edge. Dillard answered in the second to tie it 1–1, then used a chaotic fourth inning—fueled by a run-scoring single, a throwing miscue, a two-run double, and a passed ball—to surge in front 6–2 after four.

That advantage didn't last long.

Dallas Christian's offense flipped the game in the fifth and sixth:

- Top 5th: A. Villa launched a three-run homer to cut the deficit to 6–5, and K. Brent followed with an RBI single to tie it 6–6.
- Top 6th: Carrillo delivered the decisive blow with a three-run single, and Dallas Christian kept adding via Dillard defensive mistakes, pushing the lead to 10–6.

Seventh inning: Dallas Christian piles on, Dillard rallies late
Dallas Christian appeared to put the game away with an eight-run seventh, stretching the margin from 10–6 to 18–6. The inning featured continued pressure at the plate, timely singles (including RBIs from Carrillo, Brent, and C. Andino), and additional runs aided by passed balls and unearned scoring.

Dillard, though, refused to go quietly. In the bottom of the seventh, the Bleu Devils scored six runs—highlighted by:
- Ja'Lise Stewart's solo home run,
- Mhallayah Picou's two-run single,
- Ca'Terra Bates' two-run double,

…but the rally ended with Dillard still down 18–12.

Key Performers:
Dallas Christian
- G. Carrillo: 3-for-4, 3 R, 5 RBI (RBI double + two RBI singles; drove the biggest run-producing moments)
- J. Saucedo: 3-for-4, 4 runs, reached base repeatedly and scored in multiple big innings
- E. Thibault: 3-for-3, 3 runs, doubled twice
- K. Brent: 3-for-6, 3 RBI
- A. Villa: homer, 3 RBI (the swing that ignited the comeback)

Dallas Christian also drew 9 walks, constantly creating traffic and forcing Dillard into extended innings.

Dillard (LA)
- Mhallayah Picou: 3-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI
- Jessica Battiste: 3-for-4, HR, RBI
- Ca'Terra Bates: 2-for-4, 2 RBI (RBI double)
- Grace Hunter: 1 hit, 2 RBI (two-run double that keyed the 4th-inning surge)

 The difference: defense and free bases
The box score tells the story beyond the hits:
- Dallas Christian: 0 errors
- Dillard: 5 errors 

Those miscues translated directly into extra outs and multiple unearned runs, especially during Dallas Christian's decisive sixth and seventh innings. Dillard's pitching also struggled with command and traffic, allowing 9 walks and hitting three batters.

 Pitching Recap
Dallas Christian used four pitchers, with the staff allowing 12 runs (9 earned) on 16 hits. While Dillard made it a high-scoring affair, Dallas Christian's offense gave its pitchers margin—especially after the midgame comeback and the seventh-inning outburst.

Final
Dallas Christian 18, Dillard (LA) 12 
A game that swung on one huge Dallas Christian response—first the Villa homer to spark the comeback, then Carrillo's run-producing sixth, and finally an eight-run seventh that made Dillard's late rally too much to overcome.

-Bleu Devils-