MARSHALL, Texas – Waiting a day to open the 2024 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament due to weather, no. 2 East Texas Baptist University dominated no. 13 Rowan, 7-0, advancing in the winner's bracket. Avery Holland recorded another post-season shutout as ETBU posted 11 hits moving to 44-2 on the year.
 
"We knew going into this game that Rowan was going to be a challenge for us as they are a very solid team and evenly matched. They have quality pitchers on the mound and our goal was to have quality at-bats and our girls executed that and made them make plays early so we could separate the gap inning-by-inning," said head coach Janae Shirley. "I was pleased with how we played and did a solid job defensively and Avery gave us a chance to win on the mound."
 
Holland moved to 14-0 on the year with her eighth shutout recording two strikeouts. She also retired the side in third and seventh innings allowing just five hits.
 
"I knew Rowan was going to hit the ball today so I had to trust my defense. It wasn't my best game I've thrown but the defense had my back and Tauryn (Cummings) made some amazing plays and Mary Frances getting the ball in from the outfield to prevent a run with Courtney. It was a big defensive game. When I don't play my best, they have my back," said Holland.
 
Emma Bell went 4-of-4 at the plate with two runs scored and a RBI to lead the team. Delanie Loya posted four RBI and had one hit. Izabella Morales also added two hits. Tristen Maddox also had a RBI.
 
ETBU scored in the first four innings of the game with one run in the first and two runs each in the second through fourth innings. The first run came in the first inning when Maddox advanced home on a pickoff play to White on first base.
 
A fielder's choice brought in the second run of the game in the bottom of the second inning as Loya's at-bat led Bell scored. Maddox earned her RBI when she was hit-by-the-pitch with the bases loaded making it 3-0.
 
Loya doubled in Morales and Ava Rodriguez in the third inning for a five-run advantage. In the fourth inning, Bell doubled to left centerfield as Haylie Stum became the sixth run of the game. Gaining her fourth RBI, Loya was walked with the bases loaded as Bell touched home plate for the final run of the game, 7-0.
 
ETBU will now face no. 10 Belhaven University as the fifth game of the day with an approximate start time of 7:30 p.m.