Posted: May 02, 2026
ABILENE, Texas – Top-seeded Texas Lutheran scored a run five in consecutive innings en route to securing a 6-1 win over Ozarks in second round play at the 2026 SCAC Softball Tournament. Official Website | Bracket | Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Ozarks jumped on the board first and took a 1-0 lead going into the second inning following Kendall Lynch’s fourth RBI of the opening day of the tournament, scoring Isabella Hulsey on a single up the middle.
- TLU tied the game up in the home half of the second inning with two outs as Chesley Swisher singled on a 3-2 count to plate Cady Bowyer. The Bulldogs scored another two out run in the bottom of the third off a Bowyer triple to score Taylor Vannett and give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead going into the fourth.
- The Bulldogs continued to add to their lead as Swisher collected an RBI in the fourth, scoring Harleigh Russell to make it 3-1 after four. Russell then drove in a run in the fifth courtesy of a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Gabree-Ella Orosco.
- TLU capped off the scoring in the sixth as Michelle Torralba and Kayla Ramirez scored to make it 6-1 off a throwing error to first.
- Winning pitcher Katelyn Howard settled in nicely after giving up a run in the first, she allowed just one hit over the final six innings, while striking out five to win her 20th game of the season.
- The Bulldogs out hit Ozarks, 11-4.
TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Caelee Clark: 3-4, 2 SB
- Taylor Vannett: 2-4, 1 Run
- Cady Bowyer: 2-4, 1 Run, 1 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B
- Harleigh Russell: 1-3, 1 Run, 1 RBI, 1 2B
- Katelyn Howard: 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Ks, 4 hits allowed, Win
UNIVERSITY OF THE OZARKS STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Kendall Lynch: 1-3, 1 RBI
- Isabella Hulsey: 1-3
- Kamryn Uher: 1 run scored
- Bailee Cowell: 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 1 K, 2 BB
NOTABLES
- TLU improves to 32-5 all-time in SCAC Tournament Play and 1-0 against Ozarks in tournament action.
- The Bulldogs are now 10-1 all-time in SCAC Tournament openers.
- TLU improves to 36-4 on the year while, Ozarks falls to 22-20.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs now move on to face the winner of game four between No. 2 St. Thomas and Concordia, in tomorrow’s winner’s bracket final at 3:00 p.m. CT. Meanwhile, the Eagles move into an elimination game against Centenary tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. CT.
