SAN ANTONIO – Trinity University Softball returns home to face No. 3 Texas Lutheran University in another three-game Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference series.
The Tigers (7-23; 4-7 SCAC) dropped two close games at St. Thomas University (April 8) in a shortened series due to inclement weather.
Junior
Marina Delaluna (Concord, Calif. / Concord) was 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBI in game one. One of Delaluna's three hits was a game-tying home run in the third inning, which ties her for the career record at Trinity – 15 home runs hit by Caitlynn Dykes (2012-2015).
Juniors
Dawson Dabboussi (Dallas, Texas / Highland Park) and
Jordyn Williams (Clayton, Calif. / Valley Charter) both went 3-for-4 in game one with two RBI knocked in apiece.
First-year
Carsyn Lee (Flower Mound, Texas / Flower Mound) hit a first-inning grand slam to get the Tigers on the board in game two.
The Tigers rank second in NCAA III in double plays turned this season, and continue to lead the SCAC. Trinity is also still top-50 in walks (45
th).
Preview:
On the Bulldogs: Texas Lutheran remains at the top of the NFCA Coaches Poll, moving up one spot this week to take the No. 3 spot from last year's national runner up, Trine University. The Bulldogs will enter this weekend's series leading the SCAC with a record of 11-1 in conference play.
TLU is 27-3 overall on the season, and their pitching staff has thrown an NCAA III leading 16 shutouts and take fifth in the nation with a 1.32 ERA. From the circle they have struck out 159 batters and have allowed opponents to bat just .190 on the year.
TLU swept the SCAC Softball weekly awards with senior Ashlyn Strother being named Pitcher of the Week, her third time this season, and first-year Serena Gonzales being named Hitter of the Week. Gonzales also picked up the NFCA Player of the Week title for NCAA III, hitting .714 last week with two home runs and eight RBI.
Strother leads the country with seven shutouts this season and became TLU's all-time wins leader last Saturday (April 8) notching her 59
th career win to improve to 13-0 on the season.
The Bulldogs lead the nation in total stolen bases at 114 with rookie infielder Caelee Clark holding almost half of the team's total with 53 stolen bases. Clark ranks fourth in Texas Lutheran history for a single season and stole a program, and conference, record six bases in a single game against Southwestern.
In the Hole: Wrapping Up Regular Season SCAC Play
Trinity Softball will have one last homestand against University of Dallas April 21-22, followed by a trip to Sherman to face Austin College April 28-29.
The 2023 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship will be hosted by Trinity May 5-7 at the newly-renovated TU Softball Field.
