Posted: May 23, 2021
Two victories Saturday send Texas Lutheran to regional championship final
Texas Lutheran
(31-4)
5
Emory & Henry
(28-8)
0
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Texas Lutheran | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
|
Emory & Henry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
Texas Lutheran
(31-4)
5
Emory & Henry
(28-8)
0
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Texas Lutheran | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
|
Emory & Henry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
Chris. Newport
(28-14)
2
Texas Lutheran
(30-4)
4
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chris. Newport | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
|
Texas Lutheran | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | 4 | 6 | 1 |
Chris. Newport
(28-14)
2
Texas Lutheran
(30-4)
4
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chris. Newport | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
|
Texas Lutheran | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | 4 | 6 | 1 |
SEGUIN, Texas -- Regional top-seed Texas Lutheran defeated Christopher Newport (Va.) 4-2 and Emory & Henry (Va.) 5-0 on Saturday and will play Sunday for a return trip to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Finals.
The Bulldogs, the defending national champions of NCAA Division III, will play either Emory & Henry or Cedar Crest (Pa.) for the regional title. E&H and Cedar Crest play at 1 p.m. Sunday to determine who will face TLU for the regional championship.
The first regional championship game is set for a 3:30 p.m. start, following the 1 p.m. E&H v. Cedar Crest matchup. The "if necessary" game would start at 6 p.m. All Seguin, Texas regional games are being played at TLU's Ed Kruse Stadium (Morck Softball Field).
TLU is the lone remaining unbeaten team in the regional, at 3-0, and will need to be defeated twice on Sunday. TLU, the regional host and the No. 2-ranked team in the latest NFCA poll, needs just one win Sunday for a chance to defend its 2019 national championship. (The 2020 national championships were not held due to the pandemic.)
The two victories Saturday moved TLU's overall record to 31-4. The Bulldogs' win earlier in the day eliminated Christopher Newport from the tournament. The No. 3 seed was upset by No. 4 seed Emmanuel (Mass.) on the first day of the tournament (Friday).
The Bulldogs started the game with a pair of unearned runs against CNU to put the Captains in an early 2-0 deficit. TLU added two big runs in the sixth on a two-run single from McKay Bloxham.
Ashlyn Strother (11-1) tossed a complete-game. She scattered seven hits and allowed two runs (both earned). She struck out two and walked two.
In the late game, fellow right-hander Sydney Ouellette spun a six-hit shutout of two-seed E&H. She struck out three and did not walk a batter in improving to 13-2.
The Bulldogs threw a pair of E&H runners out at the plate and benefited from a bases-loaded walk and an error in the two-run second inning. Skylar Ouellette and Bloxham each had outfield assist to cut down runners at the plate.
TLU put up three runs in the top of the sixth to break open the game. Kelly Jurden tripled down the left-field line to score two runs, and Rebecca Snow singled home Jurden with the fifth run.
It was Jurden's walk in the first that drove in a run with the bases loaded.
TLU had only five hits against E&H starter Cameron Derr, but the Bulldogs took advantage of five hit batters and three walks.
