Krista Colussi, Emory University

It’ll be Texas vs. Georgia for all the marbles on Monday.

The Texas Lutheran Bulldogs (38-8) and the Emory (Georgia) Eagles (39-12) will tangle for the NCAA Division III national softball championship on the UT Tyler campus.

The best-of-three national championship series is set for Suddenlink Field. Game 1 is scheduled for 1 p.m., followed by Game 2 at 3:30 p.m.

If a third game is needed it will be played at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

Both teams are unbeaten in the College World Series in Tyler with TLU and EU rallying for victories on Sunday.

Both the Bulldogs and Eagles are seeking their first national softball title. It is also their first appearance in the finals.

The Eagles hope the outcome is different than the Texas win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, while TLU hopes for the same results as the Longhorns’ win in New Orleans.

Game 11

Texas Lutheran 6, Trine (Indiana) 3

Trine led 3-2 until the Bulldogs plated two runs in the fifth and sixth innings to come away with the win.

The Thunder (37-8) struck for the lead in the top of the fourth when Michaela Hartline blasted a two-run homer over the centerfield wall.

The score stayed that way to the bottom of the fifth until a couple of errors and doubles by Rebecca Snow, former Tyler Junior College standout from Tomball, and Skylar Ouellette, put the Bulldogs on top 4-3.

TLU added insurance runs in the sixth inning as Snow had an two-RBI single.

Chassety Raines (9-0) got the win in the circle, going five innings while allowing four hits and three runs (two earned). She struck out seven and walked three.

Kayla Oliveira recorded her second save, hurling the final two scoreless innings and giving up one hit while striking out three.

Other hits for the Thunder were from Taylor Murdock, Victoria Porter, Claire Ryan and Lexi Clark. Along with Harline’s two RBIs, Clark knocked in a run. Lainey McCue, Brooke Cunningham and Hartline scored the runs.

Snow led the Bulldogs with a 2-for-5 day with three RBIs. Along with Snow and Ouellette, Madisyn Cates added a double. Kelly Jurden and Casey Martin each had two singles. Martin and Cates added RBIs. Martin scored two runs with Jurden, Ouellette, DeAnna Hernandez and Cassie Roche crossing home plate.

Game 12

Emory (Ga.) 3, Eastern Connecticut State 2

The Eagles must love drama. Krista Colussi doubled home two runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 2-2 and in the eighth, also with two outs, Greta Wilker doubled home Sami Feller from first with the game-winner.

Eastern Connecticut State was seeking its eighth national championship appearance and the Warriors’ sixth national title. 

The Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the first as Julia SanGiovanni singled home All-America pitcher Morgan Bolduk, who had doubled and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Alexis Tyrrell.

ECSU (36-13) went on top 2-0 in the fifth as Megan Hodgdon belted a solo home run to left.

From there Toko Miller (10-3) shut down the Warriors.

After one out in the seventh, Mattie Ryan singled through the right side for the Eagles. Megan Weisenberg reached first on a fielder’s choice as Ryan was forced out at second. Lana Herrmann then singled through the right side sending Weisenberg to third. With Drew Bullock pinch running for Herrmann, Colussi doubled to right-center to bring home Weisenberg and Bullock to tie the game.

In the eighth, Sarah Katz singled to center to open the inning. Katz was forced out at second on Cassie Baca’s grounder to shortstop. Baca was then out at second on Feller’s grounder to short.

But Wilker doubled to right-center, bringing home Feller for the winning run.

Colussi led the Eagles with two doubles and two RBIs. Ryan had two singles with Jenna Wilson, Katz, Wilker and Herrmann adding base hits.

The pitching and catching battery of Bolduk and Hodgon led the Warriors with two hits each. Bolduk had two doubles and Hodgon had two singles. SanGiovanni added the other hit.

Bolduk pitched well for ECSU, going 7 ⅔ innings, allowing eight hits and three runs while striking out three and walking one.

—

Game 11

Texas Lutheran 6, Trine (Ind.) 3

Trine 010 200 0 — 3 5 2

TLU   002 022 x — 6 8 1

TU: Kate Saupe, Hannah Kampmann (5) and Victoria Porter.

TLU: Chassety Raines, Kayla Oliveira (6) and Sarah Metzer, Alyssa Cantu (4).

W — Raines (9-0), L — Saupe (16-4), S — Oliveira (2).

2B — TLU: Rebecca Snow, Skylar Ouellette, Madisyn Cates.

HR — TU: Michaela Hartline (fourth, one on).

RECORDS — Trine 37-8, Texas Lutheran 38-8.

—

Game 12

Emory (Ga.) 3, Eastern Connecticut State 2, 8 innings

ECSU  100 010 00 — 2 5 1

Emory 000 000 21 — 3 8 0

ECSU: Morgan Bolduk and Megan Hodgdon.

EU: Toko Miller and Krista Colussi.

W — Miller (10-3), L — Bolduk (22-3).

2B — ECSU: Bolduk (2). EU: Greta Wilker, Colussi (2).

HR — ECSU: Hodgdon (fifth, solo).

RECORDS — Eastern Connecticut State 36-13, Emory 39-12.

———

2019 NCAA Division III Softball Championship

Suddenlink Field, UT Tyler

Thursday’s Schedule

Game 1: Eastern Connecticut State 2, St. Thomas (Minn.) 1

Game 2: Texas Lutheran 7, Williams (Mass.) 1

Game 3: Trine (Ind.) 1, Illinois Wesleyan 0 

Game 4: Emory (Ga.) 7, Randolph-Macon (Va.) 5

Friday’s Schedule

Game 5: Williams (Mass.) 3, St. Thomas (Minn.) 2, 11 innings, St. Thomas eliminated

Game 6: Illinois Wesleyan 5, Randolph-Macon (Va.) 3, Randolph-Macon eliminated

Game 7: Emory (Ga.) 2, Trine (Ind.) 1

Game 8: Texas Lutheran 7, Eastern Connecticut State 6

Saturday’s Schedule

Game 9: Trine (Ind.) 10, Williams (Mass.) 7, Williams eliminated

Game 10: Eastern Connecticut State 1, Illinois Wesleyan 0, IWU eliminated 

Sunday’s Schedule

Game 11: Texas Lutheran 6, Trine (Ind.) 3, Trine eliminated

Game 12: Emory (Ga.) 3, Eastern Connecticut State 2, 8 innings, ECSU eliminated

National Championship

Texas Lutheran (38-8) vs. Emory (Ga.) (39-12)

(Best-of-three)

Game 1: 1 p.m. Monday

Game 2: 3:30 p.m. Monday

Game 3: 11 a.m. Tuesday, if necessary

TICKETS

Adult Ages 12+: $10

Youth (12 and Under): $6

Student (With ID): $8

Senior Citizen (55+): $5

Groups of 10+: $5/per ticket

BALLPARK DIRECTIONS

Get to the ballpark by taking University Boulevard off Loop 323 or Old Omen Road. Turn onto Patriot Drive before pulling onto Old Glory Drive. The Ballpark will be on your right with parking available in a number of parking lots.

PARKING

Parking is available but limited right outside the UT Tyler Irwin Ballpark Gates. A short walk down Old Glory Drive will lead you to plentiful parking. Additional parking is available in the parking garage off Lake Drive, just a short walk from the ballpark.