SEGUIN, Texas -- The No. 14 Texas Lutheran softball team opened the 2025 season with a pair of run-rule shutouts (8-0, 9-0) of Texas A&M - San Antonio on Opening Day at Ed Kruse Stadium.

The Bulldogs (2-0) 8-0 win over the Jaguars (1-5) marked their seventh season-opening win over the last eight seasons as the program improved to 16-9 in season openers since becoming an NCAA institution.

TLU's pitching staff spun 11.0 scoreless innings over the course of opening day with four different pitchers making appearances. Katelyn Howard (Waller/Hempstead) threw 5.0 shutout frames to earn the win in game one, allowing just one hit and one walk. Freshman Jordyn Joy (Kerrville/Tivy) won her TLU debut in the nightcap, tossing 4.0 scoreless innings and limiting the Jaguars to three hits with five strikeouts. The staff held the Jaguars to a .118 batting average, scattering four hits - all singles - and two walks while striking out five.

The Texas Lutheran lineup struck early in their first run-rule victory of the season, including four runs on a grand slam off the bat of junior Serena Gonzalez (Corpus Christi/Foy H. Moody). With the home run, Gonzalez moves into a tie with Laura Hernandez (12, 2021-23) for a tie for fifth all-time in program history with 12 career home runs.

TLU added three more runs in the fourth inning, starting with an infield RBI single from Linzee Leal (Corpus Christi/Mary Carroll) that following a Jaguars error led to two runs scoring. Caelee Clark (Montgomery/Lake Creek) followed with an RBI single to score Leal, pushing the Bulldog lead to 7-0.

Howard didn't need much help as she stymied the Jaguars over her 5.0 innings of work. In just her second career start, the right-hander allowed just two base runners on a single and a walk.

Ainsley Davis (Rockwall/Jesuit (OR)) posted a scoreless sixth inning, navigating around a one-out walk. Caelee Clark would walk it off with a sacrifice fly to score Hanna Homra (Troy, TN/Obion County).

Serena Gonzalez finished 1-for-3 with a grand slam while Clark finished 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. TLU, fresh off rewriting the record book for stolen bases a season ago, stole eight bases in game one led by two each from Clark and Leal.

Jordyn Joy made her Bulldog debut in game two and tossed a three-hit gem, going 4.0 scoreless innings. The southpaw struck out five with no walks.

Texas Lutheran's patented stellar defense shined behind Joy, providing a handful of highlight plays to squash A&M - San Antonio threats. In the first inning, Bella Rodriguez (Pearland/Pearland) caught a runner stealing at second. Caelee Clark made a stellar grab of her own on a line drive up the middle.

Faith Hernandez (Dinuba, CA/Dinuba), who made her return to the lineup after a two-year absence, opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-RBI single to left field. A pair of fielder's choices in the second allowed two more Bulldogs runs to score to double the TLU lead to 4-0. TLU would truly break the game open in the third inning with five runs on four hits. An RBI single from freshman Chesley Swisher (Cypress/Bridgeland) got the inning started before Joy helped herself with a two-RBI single to left field. Annie Kay (Sinton/Sinton) reached on an RBI fielder's choice that scored Kayla Ramirez (Kingsville/Santa Gertrudis Academy) before an RBI single from Serena Gonzalez would score Kay to bring the game to its final score of 9-0.

Faith Hernandez finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs while Jordyn Joy finished 2-for-2 at the plate with a double and two RBIs.

Freshman Kezia Alvear (Kyle/Hays) took the ball in the fifth inning and closed things out with a scoreless inning of her own.

TLU returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 8 with a doubleheader against Howard Payne at Ed Kruse Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 2 & 4 PM with all games broadcast on TLU+. All streaming and live stats links will be available on tlubulldogs.com.

For more information on Texas Lutheran softball, follow the Bulldogs on Facebook (@txlutheransoftball), Twitter (@TLUsoftball), and Instagram (@tlu_softball) and as always you can find updates on all Texas Lutheran athletics on tlubulldogs.com and all official TLU social media channels (@tluathletics on Twitter, @tlu_athletics on Instagram and TikTok, and @tlubulldogs on Facebook).