IRVING, Texas - Madison Johnson's single up the middle scored Kirsten Williams from second as top-seeded Texas Lutheran University earned a 2-1 nine-inning walk-off win over third-seeded Trinity University in the winner's bracket semifinal game of the 2022 SCAC Softball Championship on Saturday afternoon.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
- Texas Lutheran struck quickly in the first thanks to an RBI single to right field by Faith Hernandez.
- Trinity responded in the top of the fifth when Briana Pena advanced to third on a wild pitch. Dawson Dabboussi then tallied an RBI single to right center that tied the game at 1-1.
- The Bulldogs threatened in the bottom of the seventh when they had the bases loaded with just one out. However, the Tigers were able to escape the jam after Texas Lutheran popped up into a 1-5 double play and doubled the runner off third.
- Trinity was able to load the bases in the top of the eighth but could not push acros the go-ahead run.
- Laura Hernandez led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and was subbed for by pinch runner Kirsten Williams. Williams advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. That then set up Johnson's extra-inning heroics as she lifted the Bulldogs into the SCAC Championship game with an RBI single to center field.
TRINITY UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Briana Pena: 2-4, 1 run scored
- Dawson Dabboussi: 1-1, 1 RBI
- Sammie Whitman: 1-4
- Cat Patterson: 8.1 IP, 8 hits, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 K, 2 BB
UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Madison Johnson: 2-3, 1 RBI
- Faith Hernandez: 1-4, 1 RBI
- Casey Marting: 1-4, 1 run scored
- Kirsten Williams: 1 run scored
- Sydney Ouellette: 7.1 IP, 3 hits, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 K, 2 BB
NOTABLES
- With the win, Texas Lutheran won its 15th consecutive SCAC tournament game, including the third straight win in walk-off fashion.
- The Bulldogs improve to 22-1 in SCAC tournament play, including 7-1 against Trinity. Today's game marked the first time since 2016 that Texas Lutheran and Trinity played in the SCAC postseason.
- The Tigers fall to 47-31 all-time in the SCAC tournament.
- Texas Lutheran boosts its record to 37-4 overall and extends its winning streak to 20 games.
- Trinity drops to 20-23 on the season.
UP NEXT
Texas Lutheran advances to the SCAC Championship game tomorrow at 1 p.m. The Bulldogs will face either St. Thomas, Centenary, or Trinity for the SCAC tournament title. Trinity falls into the loser's bracket and will play the winner of the St. Thomas vs. Centenary game later this evening at 8 p.m.
