Bulldogs Complete Centenary Sweep with Dramatic Comeback

SEGUIN, Texas -- Trailing 4-2 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, No. 14 Texas Lutheran had other plans than seeing its 14-game winning streak come to an end. 

After giving up a pair of runs in the first and fifth innings to fall behind, TLU (23-2, 14-1 SCAC) responded in dramatic fashion with four runs on three hits in the sixth to secure the sweep over Centenary (13-19, 8-7 SCAC) and beat the Ladies 6-4.

The win marked TLU's 15th straight as they secured their 63rd consecutive SCAC series dating back to joining the conference in 2014.

After back-to-back hits to start the game, the Ladies would take advantage of a TLU fielding miscue to score the first of two runs in the opening inning. For the second straight game, Texas Lutheran would look to strike in the first before Centenary would work out of the jam - stranding two runners in the bottom of the half of the inning. TLU would strand 11 runners in total on Saturday.

A trio of one-out singles in the second inning loaded the bases for Annie Kay (Sinton/Sinton) who would draw a bases loaded walk to cut the Ladies lead in half.

A two-out single from Madison Johnson (Round Rock/Round Rock) would score Reagan Hillis (Cedar Park/Cedar Park) in the third inning to tie the game at two.

Well executed small-ball offense set up a two RBI single from Centenary in the top of the fifth to return their lead to two runs - taking a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the inning.

TLU starter Ashlyn Strother (Seabrook/Clear Falls) went 5.0 innings and worked out of jams throughout, sans the first and fifth innings. After limiting the Ladies to two runs in the fifth, Strother gave way to Ainsley Davis (Rockwall/Jesuit (OR)).

To the bottom of the sixth, back-to-back sequences of walks followed by a stolen base from Caelee Clark (Montgomery/Lake Creek) and Annie Kay to leadoff the inning set the table for the big Bulldog inning. After recording two outs, the Bulldogs offense would come alive starting with a pinch-hit two-RBI single from Serena Gonzalez (Corpus Christi/Foy H. Moody) to tie the game at four. The clutch pinch-hit marks the second in as many days from the 2023 NFCA All-American. Reagan Hillis would step to the plate and narrowly miss a two-run home run - settling for a two-out RBI triple down the left field line to score Riley Futrell (Florence/Florence) - who pinch ran for Gonzalez - to give TLU their first lead of the game. The next batter, Madison Johnson, kept it going with an RBI single through the left side to bring the scoring to a close and the TLU lead to 6-4.

The sophomore Davis finished things in the seventh by retiring the side in order and earning the win in the circle.

Strother went 5.0 innings and surrendered four runs on eight hits to go with eight strikeouts. Strother, Davis and the TLU's defense left seven Ladies on base in the contest.

Davis (2-1) closed the final 2.0 innings and gave up no hits or runs and only allowed two walks to accompany a pair of strikeouts.

At the plate, Madison Johnson went 4-for-4 - a single-game career-high for hits - with two runs batted in to pace TLU, while Hillis finished 3-for-4 with a triple, an RBI, and two runs scored. Seven Bulldogs registered a hit with Kay, Johnson, Gonzalez, and Hillis all bringing in runs. 

On the base paths, TLU would steal nine more bases bringing the weekend tally to thirty-three. Caelee Clark, NCAA Softball's leading base stealer entering the weekend - led the Bulldogs with five stolen bases bringing her season total to 66 - matching her freshman season total from a season ago. Clark becomes the first player in NCAA Division-III history and ninth player in NCAA softball history to steal 65+ bases more than once in their career. Clark would steal 14 bases this weekend alone while Annie Kay would steal two bases Saturday to bring her weekend total to seven.

Texas Lutheran continues their final regular season homestand as they welcome the Trinity Tigers to Ed Kruse Stadium on Friday, April 19. First pitch is scheduled for 6 PM. All games will be streamed on TLU's YouTube Channel, TLU+. All streaming and live stats links can be found on tlubulldogs.com.

For more information on Texas Lutheran softball, follow the Bulldogs on Facebook (@txlutheransoftball), X (Twitter) (@TLUsoftball), and Instagram (@tlu_softball) and as always you can find updates on all Texas Lutheran athletics on tlubulldogs.com and all official TLU social media channels (@tluathletics on Twitter, @tlu_athletics on Instagram and TikTok, and @tlubulldogs on Facebook).