(Story courtesy of Texas Lutheran University Athletics Communications)
ITHACA, N.Y. – Two home runs from Serena Gonzalez powered No. 9 Texas Lutheran past No. 21 Ithaca, 9-1, and into the program's third NCAA Super Regional Saturday afternoon at Kostrinsky Field in Ithaca, New York.
The dominant victory marked the Bulldogs 16th run-rule victory of the season.
A two-run home run from Serena Gonzalez followed by Harleigh Russell scoring on an Ithaca error following a double steal paved the way for Texas Lutheran's complete performance as the Bulldogs jumped in front 3-0 after one.
Ithaca scored their lone run in the top of the second before the Bulldogs responded with a run of their own on an Annie Kay sacrifice fly.
A four-run fourth inning put the game out of reach as singles from Bella Rodriguez and Linzee Leal and a sacrifice bunt from Caelee Clark set up a two-RBI single from Annie Kay.
Another Gonzalez home run in the fourth inning made it 8-1 Bulldogs, marking the All-American's first multi-home run game of 2025, second in her career, and the first multi-homer NCAA Tournament game in program history. Saturday's performance would be one for the record book for Gonzalez as she set the program's new single-season (14) and career (25) home run records and tied her own single-season RBI record (57).
Ithaca threatened throughout but would end their season by stranding nine runners on base on Saturday.
Annie Kay walked it off in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI double to score Linzee Leal to secure the win and send the Bulldogs to the NCAA Super Regionals.
Caelee Clark, Annie Kay, Serena Gonzalez, Bella Rodriguez, and Linzee Leal all turned in two-hit performances with Gonzalez and Kay driving in four runs each.
Amanda White got the start in the circle, throwing three and two-thirds innings, surrendering three and one earned run with three walks and three strikeouts to improve to 22-1 on the season. Katelyn Howard entered and tossed two and one-thirds innings and allowed two hits and two walks before White reentered in the fifth inning.
Following the conclusion of the game, Caelee Clark, Serena Gonzalez, and Amanda White were named to the Ithaca Regional All-Tournament Team with Gonzalez being named the Regional's Most Outstanding Player, finishing the regional with a .625 average, 1 2B, 3 HR, and 7 RBI in the tournament.
The Bulldogs advance to their third overall NCAA Super Regional – all coming since 2019 – and await their destination due to potential reseeding of the remaining 16 teams. The dates for the Super Regional will be May 22-23 in a best 2-out-of-3 series. All streaming and live stats links will be available on tlubulldogs.com.
