SEGUIN, Texas – The No. 15 Emory & Henry College Softball Team (29-9) saw its run in the Seguin Regional of the 2021 NCAA Division III Tournament end at the hands of top-seeded and T-No. 2 nationally-ranked Texas Lutheran University (32-4) Sunday afternoon. With the 10-2 win over the Wasps, the Bulldogs advance to the NCAA Championship Tournament in Salem, Virginia next weekend.

The Basics
GAME TEN – #1 (T-No. 2) Texas Lutheran 10, #2 (No. 15) Emory & Henry 2 (five innings)
LOCATION – Seguin, Texas
VENUE – Kruse Stadium - Morck Softball Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (29-9, 13-3 ODAC); Texas Lutheran (32-4, 18-0 SCAC)

Game Ten – #1 (T-No. 2) Texas Lutheran 10, #2 (No. 15) Emory & Henry 2 (five innings)
The Bulldogs stormed out to a 7-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Skylar Ouellette got things started with a two-run double to left field. After a pair of runs scored on wild pitches, TLU made it 7-0 with a three-run home run by Sarah Metzer.

E&H put two runners on in the top of the second but were unable to break through. In the third, junior left fielder Nicole Cox (Cedar Falls, N.C.) got aboard with a one-out infield single. After a double to left-center by senior first baseman Kendall Varner (Bassett, Va.) and a walk by senior third baseman Allyson Steadman (Kingsport, Tenn.) loaded the bases, the Wasps made a mark in the scoring column as senior shortstop Kyndall Hiatt (Ararat, Va.) plated a pair with a double to left-centerfield for a 7-2 score.

In the bottom of the frame, TLU pushed the margin back to six (8-2) on a solo home run to left-centerfield by Haley Padilla. Texas Lutheran added two runs in the bottom of the fifth as Laura Hernandez drove in the final run with a walk-off double for the final 10-2 score.

Sydney Ouellette earned the win in relief, pitching 2.1 shutout innings as she scattered four hits and one strikeout. Metzer had three RBI and a run on a 1-for-2 day while Skylar Ouellette went 1-for-3 with a run and two RBI.

Wasp senior Cameron Derr (Denver, N.C.) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on two hits and two walks. Freshman Avery Adkins (Goodview, Va.) pitched 3.2 innings of relief, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out two. Hiatt drove in both E&H runs with her third-inning single while Varner and junior second baseman Hailey Mince (Trinity, N.C.) both posted doubles in the game.

Looking Back
Emory & Henry concludes the 2021 season with its deepest run in the NCAA Division III Tournament in program history. With their runner-up finish in the Seguin Regional, the Wasps in effect finish tied for ninth in the country.

The 29-9 record marks the best winning percentage (.763) in program history and the fourth-most overall wins.

2021 NCAA Division III Seguin Regional All-Tournament Team

• McKay Bloxham - Texas Lutheran
• Alex Braun - Emory & Henry
• Kyndall Hiatt - Emory & Henry
• Kelly Jerdan - Texas Lutheran
• Megan Long - Emmanuel (Mass.)
• Hailey Mince - Emory & Henry
• Patty Maye Ohanian - Christopher Newport
• Skylar Ouellette - Texas Lutheran
• Chassetty Raines - Texas Lutheran
• Alexandra Ruprecht - Bridgewater State
• Nicole Santaniello - Cedar Crest
• Renee Snyder - Cedar Crest
• Anna Thomas - Emory & Henry
• Sydney Ouellette - Texas Lutheran (Most Outstanding Pitcher)
• Sarah Metzer - Texas Lutheran (Most Outstanding Player)