Posted: May 23, 2021
(Story courtesy of Texas Lutheran Athletic Communications)
SEGUIN, Texas -- The Texas Lutheran Bulldogs (32-4) are returning to the NCAA Division III Softball national finals and will play in defense of their 2019 national championship after defeating Emory & Henry (Va.) 10-2 in five innings Sunday for the Seguin, Texas Regional Championship.
TLU went a perfect 4-0 in the regional, played at the Bulldogs' Ed Kruse Stadium (Morck Softball Field).
The top-seeded Bulldogs opened with a 21-3 win over No. 6 seed Cedar Crest (Pa.) on Friday, eliminated No. 3 seed Christopher Newport (Va.) 4-2 on Saturday afternoon, and defeated Emory & Henry 5-0 Saturday evening to advance to the regional championship.
In the Sunday afternoon championship game, the Bulldogs opened with a seven-run first inning. Senior outfielder Skylar Ouellette started the scoring barrage with a two-run double to left.
After runs three and four scored on wild pitches, Sarah Metzer blasted a three-run home run to left field.
Emory & Henry, the regional's No. 2 seed, put up two runs in the third, but Haley Padilla put momentum back on the side of the Bulldogs with a towering solo home run to left field in the bottom of the third.
The Bulldogs tacked on a run in the fifth when Chassety Raines scored on a throw down to second base. Pinch-hitter Laura Hernandez ended the game with a double down the left field line to score pinch-runner Brandalyn Dee.
Sydney Ouellette improved to 14-2 on the year with 2-1/3 innings of relief. She was named the regional's Most Outstanding Pitcher.
Metzer, the Bulldogs' catcher, was named the regional's Most Outstanding Player.
Metzer, Sydney and Skylar Ouellette (outfield), Chassety Raines (pitcher/third base), Kelly Jurden (outfield), and McKay Bloxham (outfield) were named to the region's All-Tournament team.
The Bulldogs start play Thursday in Salem, Va. at the national championship finals.
TLU went 5-0 in the national championship finals in 2019 and won the university's first team national championship as an NCAA Division III school.
2021 Seguin, Texas Regional All-Tournament Team
Christopher Newport, designated player Patty Maye Ohanian
Cedar Crest College, outfielder Renee Snyder
Cedar Crest College, second baseman Nicole Santaniello
Bridgewater State, outfielder Alexandra Ruprecht
Emmanuel College, pitcher Megan Long
Emory & Henry, shortstop Kyndall Hiatt
Emory & Henry, second baseman Hailey Mince
Emory & Henry, center fielder Anna Thomas
Emory & Henry, pitcher/designated player Alex Braun
Texas Lutheran, pitcher/third baseman Chassety Raines
Texas Lutheran, right fielder Skylar Ouellette
Texas Lutheran, center fielder Kelly Jurden
Texas Lutheran, left fielder McKay Bloxham
Most Outstanding Pitcher of the Seguin, Texas Regional ... right-hander Sydney Ouellette, Texas Lutheran
Most Outstanding Player of the Seguin, Texas Regional ... catcher Sarah Metzer, Texas Lutheran