Bulldogs Drop NCAA Regional Opener, 2-1

MARSHALL., Texas -- No. 8 ranked and NCAA Regional No. 2 seed Texas Lutheran dropped its opening game of the 2023 NCAA Marshall Regional on Thursday, losing 2-1 to three-seed Belhaven in a rematch of the 2022 NCAA Seguin Super Regional.

Making their ninth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and in search of their second national title, the Bulldogs (38-7) will now face SUNY-Geneseo in a first-time ever matchup in an elimination game at 2:30 PM on Friday. The winner of that game will immediately play the loser of the 12 PM winner's bracket game between Belhaven and host, East Texas Baptist at a scheduled 5 PM start time.

After being held without a hit through four innings, senior Laura Hernandez (Missouri City/Ridge Point) got the Bulldogs on the board first with a leadoff, solo home run to start the fifth inning. The home run is her fifth of the season and 11th of her career, moving her into a tie with Cassie Roche for fifth on the TLU all-time home runs list.

Thursday's game-winner came courtesy of a two-run seventh inning from the Blazers, scoring on four hits and an error from TLU.

TLU righthander Sydney Ouellette (Corpus Christi/Gregory-Portland) suffered her first loss of the season. She surrendered two runs on six hits in three innings of relief. Amanda White (Lockhart/Lockhart) started the game for the Bulldogs, throwing four shutout innings.

Texas Lutheran left seven runners on base, five of which were stranded in scoring position.

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