Clark Makes History as TLU Run-Rules Southwestern, 12-4, to Clinch Series

SEGUIN, Texas -- No. 4 Texas Lutheran clinched their conference series over Southwestern with a 12-4 run-rule win in a game that started Wednesday night and due to weather was not finished until Saturday afternoon.

After the Bulldogs fell behind 4-2 in the third inning Wednesday, Texas Lutheran outscored the Pirates 10-0 through the final three innings.

Southwestern (13-17, 6-5 SCAC) went up early courtesy of a first inning RBI single. RBI singles from Madison Johnson (Round Rock/Round Rock) and Reagan Hillis (Cedar Park/Cedar Park) put the Bulldogs up 2-1 after the first.

Two third inning RBI singles and a sacrifice fly gave the Pirates a 4-2 lead.

The Bulldogs wasted no time in taking the lead back for good in the bottom of the third. After singles from Johnson and Hillis, Bailey Hudgeons (Dripping Springs/Dripping Springs) drove in both with a two-RBI double to right field. Sophomore Kylee Jack (Richwood/Brazoswood) would step to the plate next and blast a two-run homer to right center to give Texas Lutheran a 6-4 lead.

In the fourth, TLU plated two more runs on two hits. Caelee Clark (Montgomery/Lake Creek) would draw a leadoff walk, steal second, steal third and then score on the errant throw from Southwestern's catcher. On the night, Clark would steal six bases, a new TLU single-game record, surpassing the previous mark of five held by Kelly Jurden when she stole five bases against St. Thomas in 2021. The six bases ties the SCAC record for stolen bases in a game with Centre College's Delana Hopkins also achieving the mark in 2002 and is tied for second most in a game in NCAA Division-III history with the last instance coming in 2022.

Don't blink. You'll miss the show.

Reminder: Caelee Clark owns the base paths & TLU is #StolenBaseU #TooLiveU | #PupsUp pic.twitter.com/0vg11QnNMi

— TLU Softball �� (@TLUsoftball) April 8, 2023

The Bulldogs would attempt to continue to pour it on in the fourth, loading the bases for Hudgeons who would tally her third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to score Madison Johnson and bring the score to 8-4.

The fifth inning saw four more runs come across for the Bulldogs. Linzee Leal (Corpus Christi/Mary Carroll) would reach on a fielder's choice scoring Annie Kay (Sinton/Sinton) with Caelee Clark scoring on the throw as Leal advanced to second. A groundout from Serena Gonzalez (Corpus Christi/Foy H. Moody) would score Leal to bring the game to a score of 11-4. This would be the final play on Wednesday before play was halted for weather. The two teams would return Saturday morning with the Bulldogs having the run-rule victory in their sights. Reagan Hillis swiftly brought Saturday's return to play to close with an RBI single through the right side to score Madison Johnson - ending the game with a score of 12-4.

Sydney Ouellette (Corpus Christi/Gregory-Portland) started in the circle for the Bulldogs and earned a no decision - allowing two runs (one earned) in two innings of work. Amanda White (9-3)(Lockhart/Lockhart) would earn the win out of the bullpen - tossing two shutout innings in relief - striking out four batters while only allowing one hit.

Seven Bulldogs registered a hit in the contest with six bringing in at least one run, paced by Hudgeons' three RBIs and two each from Hillis and Jack.