Story courtesy of Texas Lutheran University Sports Information
SEGUIN, Texas -- Texas Lutheran University scored in every inning of a 13-1 run-rule victory over East Texas Baptist University Friday afternoon in the second game of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Seguin, Texas Regional.
In the first-ever NCAA regional game played at TLU's Ed Kruse Stadium - Morck Softball Field, the Bulldogs jumped all over the Tigers with two runs in the first, four in the second, two in the third, three in the fourth and two more in the fifth.
The Bulldogs won their 31st consecutive game to improve to 38-1 overall.
ETBU's season ends at 33-13. The Tigers dropped the first two games of the Seguin, Texas Regional. ETBU fell 3-0 in the 1 p.m. contest against No. 3-ranked University of Texas at Tyler.
TLU, ranked No. 2 in the latest NFCA poll, faces UT Tyler at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday in what amounts to a best 2-of-3 series for the regional championship. The "if necessary" game would take place at noon Sunday.
The Bulldogs and the Patriots have the two longest active win streaks in NCAA Division III. While TLU has a consecutive-wins mark at 31, the Patriots have a 32-game streak.
In the Bulldogs' win over ETBU, first-year designated player Haley Padilla crushed her ninth home run of the season - a two-run shot - in the first inning.
Kelly Jurden and Kelsie McEachern singled and doubled, respectively, in the second to drive in runs.
Skylar Ouellette produced an RBI groundout in the third and a two-RBI single in the fourth.
McEachern and Madisyn Cates each singled in the fifth to drive in runs 12 and 13.
Ouellette and Padilla, two freshmen, finished the day 2-for-3 with three RBI, and senior Kyla Lockley registered two hits, a stolen base and three runs scored.
Senior right-hander Maitlin Raycroft improved to 20-0 with the complete game. She went the full five innings, allowed four hits and one earned run. She struck out eight and walked one.