Santa Clara freshman Dallas coming home

SANTA CLARA -- It took Morgana Dallas nearly four years to hit her first home run at Buhach Colony.

The four-year starter and former Sun-Star player of the year hit a slew of singles, doubles and triples in compiling a career batting average well over .400, but only two round-trippers.

"I didn't hit any until my last few home games. ... That was before I started lifting weights," she said half-jokingly.

Clearly, it's paying off.

The Santa Clara freshman needed just one collegiate at-bat to experience one of softball's ultimate moments: the home run.

In her first game -- an unofficial fall ball contest at Monterey Peninsula community college -- Dallas strode to the plate the Broncos' baby-faced No. 3 hitter.

As a true freshman occupying a prized position in the batting order, Dallas had a lot to prove -- to herself and the coaches who plugged her into the lineup that afternoon.

That pressure nearly consumed Dallas. Adrenaline and a nervous energy washed over as she dug into the batter's box, tipped her elbow and peered back toward the circle.

Wait for a good pitch, she whispered to herself. Wait for a good pitch.

She got one, up and in, a perfect offering to turn on. The shortest and smallest player on the Bronco roster, Dallas cranked the ball out toward the left-field fence, watching it as it disappeared into the horizon.

Just like that, Santa Clara had a 2-0 lead. Dallas would highlight the 18-3 victory with a 3-for-5 performance, one home run and four RBI.

With one swing, she validated Santa Clara's investment.

"They told me before I got there that they expected a lot out of me. They wanted me to come in and be an impact player," Dallas said. "It was a little nerve-wracking, but I was excited to take the challenge. I was excited to step up."

Now comes the tallest step yet.

Now the games count.

Santa Clara opens the season on Friday with a doubleheader at nationally-ranked Fresno State. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Dallas can't wait to come back home.

She just hopes she'll get a chance to play in front of the large contingent of friends and family expected to attend.

Dallas injured her right ankle in practice, rolling it as she slid across a turf surface. She missed a week of practice, returning gingerly on Wednesday.

"If they'll let me play, I'll play for sure. If it's up to me, I'm playing," Dallas said. "I don't want to miss my first game."

If fall ball was any indication, Santa Clara can't afford to be without one of its prized recruits. Dallas started all seven games at second base. She batted third in the order for the first six games. In the seventh, coach Lisa Mize experimented with Dallas in the leadoff position.

"She has a lot of potential, huge potential to be an impact player here," said Mize.

Dallas wasn't recruited by Fresno State and says she holds no animosity.

She's happy in Santa Clara and focused on cleaning up the Bronco name.

Santa Clara was 6-49 a season ago, including 1-19 in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference. The Broncos were the PCSC's most offensively challenged team, ranking last in virtually every statistical category.

In some cases, it wasn't even close.

The numbers were dismal: .199 batting average, 119 runs scored, a .276 on-base percentage, and only 100 RBI.

Mize believes Dallas' arrival, coupled with new-found depth at the pitching position, signals change.

"We recruited her because of her hitting," Mize said. "As a coach, I'm expecting big things. Maybe it's putting a lot of pressure on her, but she has to be an offensive strength for us."

Fresno State is ranked No. 25 by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and favored to defend its Western Athletic Conference crown. The Bulldogs have won their last eight meetings with Santa Clara.

"We're just trying to show everyone a good game and play our best," Dallas said. "Fresno State, they're ranked. Don't get me wrong, we want to win. But we want to make sure to show them a good game."