Game 1: SCU Opens Tournament With 4-0 Shutout Over Wayland Baptist
Southwestern Christian University opened the NCCAA Central Region Tournament in dominant fashion with a 4-0 victory over Wayland Baptist University on May 8.
The Eagles broke through in the second inning when Jayley Ray delivered an RBI single to score Jessie Moralez and give SCU a 1-0 lead. SCU added three more runs in the third inning to create separation. Trinity Norwood tripled to left field and later scored on an outfield error, while Jasmine Olivas added a sacrifice fly to bring home another run. Ebony Garza later scored on a stolen base to cap the inning and extend the lead to 4-0.
Trinity Norwood finished with a triple and a run scored, while Kelsie McCollom recorded two hits for the Eagles. Jayley Ray drove in the first run of the game, and Hannah Keele added a hit during the win.
In the circle, Lainey King was outstanding, throwing a complete-game shutout while allowing only four hits and one walk across seven innings. SCU's defense also turned three double plays to help preserve the shutout victory.
Game 2: Eagles Roll Past Arlington Baptist 12-2
Later that evening, SCU continued its strong tournament run with a commanding 12-2 victory over Arlington Baptist University.
The Eagles exploded offensively right from the start, scoring five runs in the opening inning. Trinity Norwood delivered an RBI single, while SCU also capitalized on Arlington Baptist defensive miscues to quickly build a large lead. Payton Leba added a key RBI single during the inning as the Eagles took complete control early.
SCU added another run in the second inning on Jessie Moralez's sacrifice fly before adding two more runs in the fifth inning behind Payton Leba's two-run single. The Eagles finished the game with a huge four-run sixth inning highlighted by an RBI double from Ebony Garza and a two-run double from Kelsie McCollom.
Trinity Norwood led the offense with a 3-for-4 performance, scoring three runs and driving in one. Ebony Garza added two RBIs, Kelsie McCollom drove in three runs, and Payton Leba finished with two RBIs. Hannah Keele and Kylee Coy each scored twice as SCU totaled 12 runs on nine hits.
Macey Weger earned the win in the circle, allowing just two runs while striking out five batters across six innings.
Game 3: SCU Wins NCCAA Central Region Championship in Walk-Off Thriller
SCU completed the historic tournament run on May 9 with a dramatic 8-7 walk-off victory over Wayland Baptist to secure the first NCCAA Central Region Championship in school history.
The Eagles jumped ahead early in the first inning when Ebony Garza doubled to left field to score Kylee Coy and give SCU a 2-0 lead. SCU added another run in the second inning after Jasmine Olivas singled and later scored on Jayley Ray's RBI single to make it 3-0.
Wayland Baptist rallied to tie the game 3-3 in the fourth inning, but the Eagles answered in the sixth. Ebony Garza reached on a bunt single and later scored, while Jasmine Olivas delivered the biggest hit of the inning with a two-run triple to left field. SCU added another run later in the inning to take a 6-3 lead entering the seventh.
The drama intensified in the top of the seventh as Wayland Baptist scored four runs to take a 7-6 advantage, putting the Eagles on the brink of defeat. But SCU responded with championship composure in the bottom half.
Danielle Burleson opened the inning with a single before Kamry Snapp entered as a pinch runner. Ebony Garza followed with a walk, and Jessie Moralez laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Jasmine Olivas then delivered the game-tying and game-winning hit with a single that scored both Snapp and Garza, sending the Eagles into celebration mode as SCU captured the regional title.
Jasmine Olivas finished with three RBIs, including the walk-off hit, while Ebony Garza recorded two hits and scored twice. Jayley Ray added two hits and an RBI, and Hannah Keele and Trinity Norwood each contributed key hits during the championship victory.
