Bulldogs Run-Rule Dallas to Open Weekend

IRVING, Texas -- No. 3 Texas Lutheran (30-4, 16-0 SCAC) won its 13th consecutive game to open the weekend series against University of Dallas, beating the Crusaders 8-0 in five innings on Thursday.

The Bulldogs got two RBIs each from Chassety Raines (Spring/Klein Collins), Kelly Jurden (Brenham/Brenham), and Madison Johnson (Round Rock/Round Rock). Sophomore Sydney Ouellette (Corpus Christi/Gregory-Portland) went the distance in the circle, collecting her eighth win of the season with a complete game shutout - surrendering just two hits and a walk to go with four strikeouts. It was Texas Lutheran's 15 shutout of the season - returning the Bulldogs to the top of the NCAA leaderboard.

The Bulldogs would take advantage of defensive miscues from Dallas to plate two runs on one hit and two Dallas errors in the third inning. After Brandalyn Dee (Cibolo/Steele) and Kelly Jurden reached to start the inning, Chassety Raines would plate Dee on a sacrifice fly. Casey Martin (Pearland/Pearland) would drive in Jurden to give TLU a 2-0 lead.

The bats came alive in the fourth inning with the Bulldogs plating four runs on four hits. After a single from Laura Hernandez (Missouri City/Ridge Point) and double from Sarah Metzer (Sugar Land/Dulles), Madison Johnson would hit an RBI double down the left field line scoring Lexi Coward (Rockwall/Rockwall) who pinch ran for Hernandez. Kelly Jurden brought in Metzer and Johnson with a two-RBI double. After Jurden stole third for her NCAA-leading 51st stolen base, Raines would score Jurden on another sacrifice fly.

TLU put up two more runs on three hits in the fifth. An RBI double from Laura Hernandez and RBI single from Madison Johnson highlighted the frame.

With the run-rule in play, Sydney Ouellette cruised through the bottom of the fifth after a leadoff walk to close the game.

The teams meet for a series ending doubleheader on Friday at UD Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12 PM and 2 PM. All streaming and live stats links can be found on tlubulldogs.com.

For more information on Texas Lutheran softball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter and Instagram (@TLUsoftball) 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, @tlubulldogs on Instagram and Facebook, and @tlu_athletics on TikTok).