Emory Softball Finishes Runner-Up At NCAA D-III Championships

Emory Softball Finishes Runner-Up At NCAA D-III Championships

The Emory softball team saw a memorable and historic season come to an end on Sunday as it recorded a runner-up finish at the NCAA D-III Championships. The Eagles battled Texas Lutheran in a best-of-three-series for the national title, with the Bulldogs prevailing in both contests. TLU posted a five-inning 12-4 decision in the first contest before winning that program's first-ever national championship with a 6-1 verdict in the second game. Emory finishes the year with a record of 39-14, with its second-place finish the best-ever showing for the program at the Championships. TLU wrapped up its year with an overall slate of 40-8.


Texas Lutheran 12 Emory 4 (5 inn.)
* Emory is run-ruled for the first time this season.
* Senior Jenna Wilson and junior Sami Feller each collect a pair of hits as the Eagles finish the game with six safeties. It is Feller's 18th outing with two or more hits and Wilson's 16th.
* Playing as the visiting team, Emory scores an unearned run in the top of the second to knot the score at 1-1, and moves ahead the following frame when a two-out single by senior Cassie Baca scores Wilson from second.
* The Bulldogs seize on a pair of Emory fielding miscures in its half of the third, scoring eight runs, six of which are unearned.
* Emory narrows the deficit to 9-4 after picking up two runs in the top of the fourth, highlighted by a RBI single by Wilson that plates Natalie Arreguin.
* However, the Bulldogs tack on three more scores in the bottom of the frame.
* Senior pitcher Madeline Maday took the loss for Emory, leaving her record at 8-5 on the campaign.

Texas Lutheran 6, Emory 1
* Facing its sixth elimination game of the postseason, the Emory offense is handcuffed by TLU starter Chassety Raines who throws a complete-game three-hitter, winning for the 10th time in 19 deicsions this year.
* Sami Feller, senior Sam Vincent and freshman Krista Colussi account for the Eagles' three safeties
* TLU uses the long ball with three homers that account for four of its runs.
* Holding a 3-0 leading, the Bulldogs start the fifth inning with back-to-back homers from Rebecca Snow and Skylar Ouelette to claim a 5-0 lead.
* The Eagles pick up their lone score in the bottom of the fifth with Jenna Wilson racing around from first following a TLU fielding error off the bat of Sarah Katz.
* Emory senior pitcher Toko Miller takes the loss, just her fourth in 14 decisions this year, going the first four innings and allowing nine hits and five runs. Miller ends her career with an overall record of 21-11, with her win total ranking 13th all-time in program history.
* In addition to Miller, other Emory seniors closing out their careers included Cassie Baca, Jenna Wilson, Sam Vincent, Lana Herrmann, Madeline Maday and Max Faass. The group accounted for 139 wins, three University Athletic Association Championships and three trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Emory had three representatives on the Championships All-Tournament Team – Sami Feller, Sarah Katz and Jenna Wilson.