ABILENE, Texas – Top-seeded Texas Lutheran advanced to the program’s 12th consecutive SCAC Championship game after recording a 4-1 victory over third-seeded Concordia University (Tex.) on Sunday afternoon at Edwards Field on the Campus of McMurry University. Official Website | Bracket | Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview
Powered by a three-run bottom half of the first inning, the Bulldogs march into Monday’s Championship series and will await the program that emerges out of the elimination bracket.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After retiring the side in order in the top of the first TLU put three runs on the board in the bottom half. Serena Gonzalez drove in Caelee Clark on a single to left center. It was the 235th career run for Clark who is not the all-time leader in runs scored in SCAC history breaking a tie with former Bulldog Kelly Jurden.
- Harliegh Russell followed with a two-out two RBI double, scoring Cady Bowyer and Gonzalez to give TLU the 3-0 lead after one.
- TLU starting pitcher Jordyn Joy scattered just two hits over the opening five innings limiting momentum for the Tornados.
- Concordia finally got on the board in the sixth inning as Malarie Mican crossed the plate thanks to a fielder’s choice off the bat of Lilly Longoria. Despite threatening with the bases loaded and no outs, Joy was able to work out of the jam, allowing just the one run and stranding three runners.
- TLU responded immediately and cooled the Tornado rally as Bowyer connected on her sixth home run of the season to push the lead back to three, 4-1, going into the seventh.
- Saturday’s winning pitcher Katelyn Howard came in for a 1, 2, 3 seventh to record her first save of the season and send the Bulldogs into Monday.
TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Cady Bowyer: 2-2, 2 runs scored, 1 HR, 1 Double, 1 RBI, 1 BB
- Harliegh Russell: 2-3, 2 RBI, 1 Double
- Serena Gonzalez: 1-3, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Caelee Clark: 1 run (SCAC All-Time Leader in Runs with 235)
- Jordyn Joy: 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 hits allowed, 7 Ks, WP
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Malarie Mican: 1-3, 1 run
- Kylie Denaro: 1-2, 1 BB
- Molly Olivarez: 1-2: 1 BB
- Karlee Mathis: 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 hits allowed, 1 K
NOTABLES
- Concordia left five runners stranded on base and struck out seven times in the game compared to just a pair of stranded runners for TLU and just two strikeouts.
- TLU improves to 33-5 all-time in SCAC Tournament history, while Concordia drops to 2-3 all-time.
UP NEXT
Texas Lutheran advances to the SCAC Championship game tomorrow at 1 p.m. The Bulldogs will face either St. Thomas, Ozarks, or Concordia for the SCAC tournament title. Concordia falls into the elimination bracket and will play the winner of the Ozarks vs. St. Thomas game later this evening at 8:00 p.m. CT.
