Posted: May 04, 2026
ABILENE, Texas – Powered by 16 hits, including two home runs off the bat of Serena Gonzalez, top-seeded Texas Lutheran secured its 10th SCAC Softball Tournament Title on Monday afternoon, with a 8-1 win over fifth-seeded Ozarks. Official Website | Bracket | Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview
Gonzalez is just the eighth player in SCAC history to launch a pair of home runs in a single game and the first to accomplish the feat in SCAC Title game history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- TLU took a 3-0 lead through the opening two frames as Gonzalez, Chesley Swisher and Caelee Clark all collected RBI.
- Ozarks threatened to cut into the Bulldog lead in the third after a pair of hit and loading the bases, as TLU starter Katelyn Howard was relieved by Jordyn Joy who stranded three Eagle runners and got out of the jam without allowing a run to keep a 3-0 lead.
- Emma Reynolds smashed her second home run of the tournament over the right field fence to get Ozarks on the board and cut the TLU lead to 3-1. However, the Bulldogs responded in the home half of the fifth, first Gonzalez belted the first of her two home runs over the left field wall to extend the lead back out to three, 4-1. Natalie Pacheco stepped in to pitch hit driving in Harleigh Russell to give the Bulldogs a 5-1 lead after five.
- The Bulldogs pushed the lead to 8-1 in the sixth after Gonzalez smashed her second home run of the day, a two-run shot to center field, scoring Taylor Vannett. Russell then provided the final insurance run, scoring Kayla Ramirez.
- Joy, who came on in relief and earned her second win of the tournament, closed the door shut, spinning 4.2 innings, allowing the one home run, scattering four hits and striking out three.
TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Serena Gonzalez: 4-4, 2 HR, 2 runs, 4 RBI
- Riley Davila: 2-4, 1 run
- Harleigh Russell: 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 double
- Caelee Clark: 1-4, 1 RBI
- Jordyn Joy: 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 hits allowed, 3 Ks
UNIVERSITY OF THE OZARKS STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Emma Reynolds: 1-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 run
- Isabella Hulsey: 2-3, 1 HBP
- Grace Price: 2-3
- Bailee Cowell: 1-3, 1 double, 6.0 IP, 8 ER, 3 Ks
2026 All-TOURNAMENT TEAM
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C- Ana Zozaya (St. Thomas)C - Isabell Hulsey (Ozarks)1B - Cady Bowyer (TLU)2B - Caelee Clark (TLU)3B - Olivia Sanchez (St. Thomas)SS - Chesley Swisher (TLU)OF - Malarie Mican (Concordia)OF - Emma Reynold (Ozarks)OF - Kendall Lynch (Ozarks)OF - Harleigh Russell (TLU)DP - Serena Gonzalez (TLU)UT - Karlee Mathis - (Concordia)P - Bailee Cowell - (Ozarks)P - Jordyn Joy (TLU)
NOTABLES
- With the win, Texas Lutheran earns the SCAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship.
- The Bulldogs 16 hits today are tied for the fifth most hits in a single SCAC Tournament game in conference history.
- The Bulldogs earned the program's 10th SCAC tournament championship.
- Texas Lutheran improves to 34-5 all-time in SCAC Tournament play.
- TLU senior Caelee Clark finished the tournament with two stolen bases, finishing her career tied for the all-time lead with 10 in SCAC Tournament history.
- Ozarks’ Isabella Hulsey finished the tournament with nine hits, tied for the seventh most in a single tournament in SCAC history and her nine RBI over the tournament are third all-time.
- Eagles’ Bailee Cowell finished the tournament with a 4-2 record, 41.0 innings pitched and 621 total pitches. Her four wins are tied for the most in a single SCAC Tournament and her 41.0 innings pitched are a new tournament record, breaking the previous mark of 31.0.
- TLU improves to 38-4 on the season and will carry an eight game winning streak into the NCAA Tournament.
- Ozarks falls to 25-21 on the season.
UP NEXT
Texas Lutheran will await word of its opponent when the NCAA Division III Softball Championship selections are announced on Monday, May 11.
