Strother Perfect as No. 15 TLU Run-Rules Dallas, 15-0

IRVING, Texas -- Senior Ashlyn Strother (Seabrook/Clear Falls) opened this weekend's series against University of Dallas with the second perfect game of her career as No. 15 Texas Lutheran run-ruled the Crusaders 15-0 in five innings.

After being held scoreless in the first, TLU would combine for 15 runs over the course of the next three innings. The Bulldogs would jump out to a 4-0 lead in the second and put up six runs in the third before a five spot in the fourth. Behind Strother's stellar performance, the offense gave her plenty of help, racking up 16 hits in the contest.

In the second, an RBI single from Linzee Leal (Corpus Christi/Mary Carroll) opened the scoring before Annie Kay (Sinton/Sinton) would follow with an RBI single of her own. A double steal from the Bulldogs lead to a steal of home from Leal extended the lead to 3-0 before Kylee Jack (Richwood/Brazoswood) would put TLU up four after two with an RBI single.

In the third, a Dallas error allowed Tavery Ortiz (Texas City/Texas City) to score before an RBI single from Annie Kay and a two-RBI single from Caelee Clark (Montgomery/Lake Creek) would stretch the lead to 8-0 to put the game in run-rule territory. Kylee Jack would pick up her second RBI of the night with a sacrifice fly and Clark would close the third inning scoring by scoring on a Dallas error.

The fourth saw TLU put up five runs on four hits, including three pinch hits. Following a lead-off walk to Reagan Hillis (Cedar Park/Cedar Park) and a Leal single, UTSA transfer Tatum Seith (Hewitt/Midway) picked up her first hit as a Bulldog, a two-RBI triple to left center. Caelee Clark would ground out to score Annie Kay, who re-entered for Seith following her triple. Freshman Kourtney Bellinger (Houston/Grand Oaks) concluded the game's scoring with a two-RBI single, scoring Mia Landry (Cypress/Bridgeland) and Harleigh Russell (Fort Worth/Boswell) to make it 15-0 TLU after four. The hit was the first of her collegiate career.

Strother (8-0) retired all 15 batters she faced on just 73 pitches, striking out 13 of the 15 batters she faced. It was the senior's second perfect game, the most by an individual pitcher in program history, and second against University of Dallas following her perfect game against the Crusaders in 2023. It marked the eighth perfect game and the 34th no-hitter in program history. The no-hitter was the first of the season for Strother, third individual of her career, and fifth overall, with the last coming against SUNY-Geneseo in a combined no-hitter in the 2023 NCAA Marshall Regional. The shutout is her fourth of the season and her third straight.

Versus the Crusaders, 11 Bulldogs registered a hit with seven bringing in at least one run. Kay paced TLU with a 3-for-3, two RBI performance. Caelee Clark was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two stolen bases.

TLU continues SCAC play on Saturday, wrapping the series with the Crusaders with a doubleheader. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 12 and 2 PM. All streaming and live stats links will be available on tlubulldogs.com.