(Story Courtesy of Texas Lutheran Sports Information Department)
MARSHALL, Texas -- Texas Lutheran's No. 9-ranked softball team entered the bottom of the seventh inning of their NCAA Marshall Regional game Friday with a 3-0 lead and seemingly a firm grasp on the game.
The TLU pitching staff had a shutout through six despite nine hits and zero walks from the Panthers. With the Bulldogs just one out from completing their second shutout of the Panthers of the weekend and their third straight dating back to the 2022 Seguin Regional, the Panthers got a double from their leadoff hitter. The Panthers followed with a single to right center to score what would ultimately be their lone run despite making it interesting late in the game Friday evening. Ashlyn Strother was able to force a pop out to the next batter to secure her first save of the season out of the bullpen.
With their 3-1 win, the Bulldogs (33-4) will advance to their ninth straight NCAA Regional Final dating back to 2015.
After being shutout in their first game on Friday, the Bulldogs got on the board in the first against the Panthers courtesy of an RBI single from Kylee Jack.
Harleigh Russell led off the fifth inning with a double off the left center field wall before coming in to score on an RBI groundout from Abby Touchet.
Russell would lead off the seventh inning with another double to left field and would score her second run of the game via an RBI single from Linzee Leal.
Sydney Ouellette allowed eight hits and struck out one over four shutout innings to pick up her second win of the weekend and push her season record to 8-2. With the win, Ouellette takes sole possession of fourth all-time on the TLU all-time wins list, surpassing Taylor Grissom (2013-16). Strother would strike out two over three innings for her first save of the year. The senior pitching duo would combine to strand nine runners, thanks in part to stellar defensive play from All-Region center fielder Annie Kay.
Texas Lutheran advances to the regional final and will have a rematch with the No. 2-ranked East Texas Baptist Tigers on Saturday. First pitch is set for 11 AM at Bell Park at Taylor Field. If the Bulldogs win that game, an if-necessary game will be played at 1:30 PM. All streaming and live stats links available on tlubulldogs.com.
