News Summary
The Centenary softball team secured a victory against McMurry University with a score of 6-1 in an elimination game at Roberts Family Field, allowing them to advance in the SCAC championship. Senior pitcher Emma Shepherd led the team with an exceptional performance, pitching a complete game and striking out five batters. With this win, Centenary improved their record to 20-21 and will face Trinity University in a rematch at Taylor-Sanders Field. The game showcased the team’s offensive strength, highlighted by multiple players contributing to the victory.
Concordia, TX – The No. 6 seed Centenary softball team triumphed over the No. 5 seed McMurry University War Hawks with a score of 6-1 in an elimination game held on Saturday at Roberts Family Field. This victory allows Centenary to advance in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) championship, improving their season record to 20-21 after a previous loss against the No. 3 seed Trinity University Tigers.
The Centenary Ladies will face Trinity University in a rematch scheduled for Sunday at 10 a.m. at Taylor-Sanders Field on the Southwestern University campus. Trinity University secured their position by defeating Concordia University 12-6 in an earlier game on Saturday, setting the stage for Centenary’s next challenge.
During the game against McMurry, the Centenary team demonstrated offensive strength by recording 13 hits, marking their 10th game this season with at least 10 hits. The Ladies have achieved this season-high figure four times, with three instances against McMurry. Centenary’s success can be attributed to their aggressive offensive strategy, which was particularly evident in the third inning when they scored five runs with two outs.
The standout performance came from senior left-handed pitcher Emma Shepherd, who pitched a complete game, allowing only one earned run and three hits over seven innings. Shepherd managed to even her season record to 9-9 while striking out five batters, facing 28 in total. Out of 92 pitches thrown, 60 were strikes. Shepherd’s impressive control and consistent performance were key factors in Centenary’s victory.
On the opposing side, Mackenzie McClellan (3-3) took the loss for McMurry, giving up five earned runs and four hits across 2.2 innings, while being replaced by Baylee Fulps who allowed nine hits but only managed to give up one earned run over 4.1 innings.
McMurry began the scoring in the bottom of the second inning with a sacrifice fly from left fielder Aliyah Tanguma, putting them in the lead at 1-0. However, Centenary quickly responded in the third. Abby Touchet, the catcher, brought in the tying run, and junior left fielder Laine Sullivan hit a pivotal triple to clear the bases, allowing the Ladies to take a decisive 4-1 lead. The inning concluded with an RBI single from sophomore designated player Taylor Good, extending the lead to 5-1.
Centenary added an insurance run in the seventh inning thanks to a two-out RBI single from Crow, securing the final score at 6-1. Shepherd’s performance in the subsequent innings was pivotal, as she retired nine batters in a row from the fourth to the sixth inning, allowing only a walk and a single in the seventh.
In addition to the strong pitching performance, the Centenary offense was powered by the multi-hit successes of five players. Noelle Sandmann led the team with three hits, while Good, Touchet, Crow, and Abigail Hodgson each contributed two hits. Sullivan topped the RBI count for the game with three, followed by Crow, Good, and Touchet with one each.
Looking ahead, the upcoming championship schedule includes three elimination games on Sunday, as detailed on the SCAC championship central page. Centenary will aim to continue their journey in the tournament, striving for a spot in the championship match.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Centenary College Softball Team Concludes Season at Southwestern University
Nederland High School’s Baseball Team Faces Georgetown High School
Centenary Softball Team Triumphs in Elimination Game at Southwestern University
Waltrip High School Hosts Georgetown High School Baseball Matchup
Centenary Baseball Team Dominates Southwestern University
Centenary University Baseball Sweeps Southwestern University Pirates
Centenary Baseball Triumphs Over Southwestern University in Doubleheader
Centenary Baseball Faces Southwestern University This Weekend
Centenary Softball Team Sweeps University of Dallas in Series
Centenary Softball Team Dominates Southwestern University Pirates
Additional Resources
- Centenary Softball Championship Victory
- Wikipedia: Softball
- Centenary Baseball News Release
- Google Search: Centenary Athletics
- Centenary Softball Matchup Analysis
- Google Scholar: Centenary Softball
- Centenary Softball Tournament Updates
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Softball
- Centenary Softball Game Highlights
- Google News: Centenary Softball News
