INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Texas Lutheran University Bulldogs will head to Tyler, Texas to take on the University of La Verne Cougars this weekend in the opening round of the 2017 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament.
Texas Lutheran will head to a regional hosted by the University of Texas at Tyler from May 12-14. The winner of the Bulldogs' game against La Verne will face the Patriots. The tournament is double elimination.
The teams that advance from this group will compete in a super regional against the winner of the three-team regional held at the University of Texas at Dallas. This round will be played May 19-20.
Texas Lutheran will enter the tournament on a 37-game winning streak, with their only losses of the year coming in February to a pair of nationally-ranked teams, UT-Dallas and Berry College. The Bulldogs have not faced UT-Tyler or La Verne this season.
Texas Lutheran continues to dominate bother offensively and defensively, averaging more than seven runs per game, while allowing just under 1.5 from their opponents. Much of their strength comes from pitching as starters Maitlin Raycroft and Amanda Lochte have combined to post 19 shutouts. Raycroft has also record eight shutouts, an NCAA Division III single season record.
The Bulldogs also shut out all three opponents in their SCAC tournament run.
The finals, hosted by the University of Central Oklahoma and the Oklahoma City All-Sports Association, will be held May 25-30 at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. All rounds will use a double elimination format.
To view the entire 2017 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament bracket, click here.