No. 3 UT Tyler Edges Out DII No. 22 Augustana
No. 3 UT Tyler Edges Out DII No. 22 Augustana
UT Tyler softball bats come alive against No. 22 Augustana at THE Spring Games.
CLERMONT, Fla.—Division III No. 3 University of Texas at Tyler Softball (13-1) defeated NCAA Division II opponent No. 22 Augustana University (8-5) with a 7-6 score Saturday evening at THE Spring Games.
REPLAY | UT Tyler vs Augustana
Neither team was would to score through the first two innings, but the Patriots got on the board in the top of the second inning with the first run of the game. Sophomore outfielder Haleigh Swinney (Crosby, Texas) led off the inning with a single to center field. She would score the run with the next two UT Tyler batters reaching on Viking errors.
Senior left-hander Colleen Bentke (Brenham, Texas) got the start in the circle for the Patriots. She faced minimum through the first three innings and did not allow a base runner. She struck out one batter in both the first and second innings before punching out a pair of Augustana batters in the third.
The Patriots added to their lead in the top of the fourth. The Vikings walked three straight batters to load the bases and then senior infielder Victoria Gonzales (Elgin, Texas) was hit by a pitch to plate senior outfielder Dariann Resendez (Austin, Texas). Senior infielder Theresa Gonzales (Elgin, Texas) was also walked later in the inning to score senior outfielder Nicole Garcia (Sugar Land, Texas).
To make it interesting, Augustana scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to trim the Patriot lead to one, 3-2. UT Tyler quickly extended their lead in the next half inning with four runs coming home. Victoria Gonzales singled with two runners on, plating Resendes from third. Swinney came around to score on a groundout by sophomore catcher Ashley Perez (Pflugerville, Texas) for the second run.
With a runner on base, Theresa Gonzales hit her team-leading fourth home run of the season allowing two more runs to score. Her second home run in the past three games ahead, 7-2 heading into the final half inning.
Trying to extend the ball game, the Vikings would not go down easily. The first six Augustana batters of the inning reached base with four runs crossing home plate. With the bases loaded and now outs, UT Tyler recorded three-consecutive outs to end the game and secure a one-run victory over the nationally ranked NCAA Division II squad.
Theresa Gonzales and Victoria Gonzales both lead the Patriots with three RBI's while Swinney was the lone batter with multiple hits in the game going 2-2. In the circle, Bentke moved to 7-1 on the season after going five innings and surrendering two runs. Junior right-hander Miranda Leal (San Antonio, Texas) pitched one inning of relief while junior right-hander Whitney Romero (Lafayette, Louisiana) recorded the final three outs to get her first save of the season.
Related Content
- 2024 Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year Addisen Fisher
Jun 12, 2024
- FloCollege To Launch In October 2024
Jun 11, 2024
- FloSports Reveals FloCollege -- New NCAA Platform Launching In October
Jun 11, 2024
- College Softball Mercy Rule Explained. Here's When It's Used
Jun 5, 2024
- Kara Hammock & UNCW Softball Win The 2024 CAA Softball Championship Title
May 24, 2024
- Cinematic Recap: UNCW vs Campbell | 2024 CAA Softball Championship Game
May 24, 2024
- 5 Pivotal Moments That Led To Lenoir-Rhyne's First SAC Title Since 2013
May 15, 2024
- Replay: Moravian vs Lycoming | May 12 @ 2 PM
May 12, 2024
- Replay: Catholic vs Lycoming | May 12 @ 12 PM
May 12, 2024