No. 1 Bulldogs start Arizona road trip with win over Mary Washington

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Top-ranked and defending national champion Texas Lutheran opened its 10-game Arizona softball trip with a 7-0 victory Thursday night against Mary Washington.

TLU improved to 12-0 overall with the non-conference win. Mary Washington, out of Fredericksburg, Va., fell to 8-5-1.

Senior infielder Madisyn Cates went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, and Casey Martin was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBI, and two stolen bases.

Cassie Roche had a pair of hits and three stolen bases.

The Bulldogs had six stolen bases against Mary Washington.

Freshman right-hander Ashlyn Strother took a no-hitter into the fourth inning. She ended her night by allowing only two hits in five innings.

Strother improved to 5-0 overall. She struck out four and did not walk a batter.

Senior right-hander Jordaine Bishop tossed the final two innings, both scoreless. She allowed just one hit and struck out one.

TLU plays a pair of games Friday in Tucson at the start of the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The Bulldogs face No. 5-ranked Illinois Wesleyan at 7 p.m. central (6 p.m. mountain) and then play Babson (Mass.) at 9 p.m. central (8 p.m. mountain).

Live stats links for all of TLU's games in Arizona can be found at tlubulldogs.com.