Sports – Page 4 – Lake Weekly

Saints Claim Eighth Straight Win

Our Lady of the Lake produced a strong all-around performance Wednesday, defeating Huston–Tillotson 16–2 behind a dominant outing from starting pitcher Josh Ruiz and a balanced offensive effort that produced 14 hits.

Ruiz earned the win after pitching a complete seven innings. He allowed just three hits and two runs, only one of which was earned, while striking out eight and walking one. The right-hander threw 77 pitches, 61 for strikes, and kept Huston–Tillotson from generating consistent offensive pressure throughout the game.

At the plate, the Saints capitalized on scoring opportunities early and often. Benjamin Hovda reached base three times, scored three runs, drove in two, and added two stolen bases. Jack Kalisky finished with two hits and three runs scored, including a double that helped fuel the early offense.

Diego Zuniga led the Saints with a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with five runs batted in and two doubles. His timely hitting helped extend several innings and build the Saints lead.

Jacob Cueva also delivered a productive day, collecting two doubles and two RBIs. Brett Atkinson recorded two hits, including a double, while scoring twice and driving in one. Aiden Gonzalez added two hits and two RBIs, and Mason Ruiz contributed a double and an RBI.

Our Lady of the Lake remained aggressive on the bases as well. Hovda stole two bases, Derek Hernandez added two steals after reaching base, and Atkinson contributed another as the Saints continued to pressure the Huston–Tillotson defense.

Huston–Tillotson scored its runs on a solo home run from Jacob Perez and a sacrifice fly from Danny Hernandez. However, the Rams managed only three hits in the game and struck out eight times against Ruiz. After Huston–Tillotson starter Edgar Muniz allowed four runs in three innings, the Saints continued to add to their lead against the bullpen, including a five-run stretch during the middle innings that put the game out of reach.

The Saints will be back in action this Friday at 6:00 PM CDT to start their home stand against Texas A&M-Texarkana.

Litterio Wins Third RRAC Pitcher Of The Week Honors

The RRAC announces Texas A&M-Victoria’s Alyssa Carter as Softball Player of the Week and ninth-ranked Our Lady of the Lake’s (Texas) Annika Litterio as Pitcher of the Week for the dates of March 2-8. This is the sixth set of weekly awards.Senior right-handed pitcher Annika Litterio pitched in all four of the Saints’ games last week. She secured two wins – Freed-Hardeman, 9-8, and (22) William Carey, 4-2. She suffered one loss against (20) Mobile (Ala.), 2-1, and one no-decision to (10) Southeastern (Fla.), 1-0. Litterio pitched 18.1 innings, allowing three unearned runs, while striking out 14. Her ERA for the week is 1.15. She also added three assists..

Litterio has 11 wins and two losses, plus one save. She pitched in a total of 68 innings and struck out 83. She is second in the RRAC with a 1.34 ERA, and first in wins and in strikeouts. This is Litterio’s third Pitcher of the Week award.

OLLU is first in the conference with a 6-0 record and 16-3 overall. The Saints are ranked ninth in the latest NAIA Softball Coaches Top 25 Poll.

OLLU Posts Top-Three Finish at Schreiner Shootout

The Our Lady of the Lake University Saints earned a share of third place at the Schreiner Shootout, finishing in a tie in a competitive seven-team field.

The Saints posted a two-round total of 46-over par, opening with a 16-over performance before carding a 30-over round on day two. Their consistent presence near the top half of the standings reflected a balanced lineup and multiple individual finishes inside the top 25.

University of the Southwest Mustangs claimed the team title at 23-over par, shooting rounds of 10-over and 13-over. Concordia Texas Tornados finished second at 30-over, highlighted by a strong 6-over opening round. OLLU tied for third with University of St. Thomas Celts, which rebounded from a 27-over first round to post a 19-over team score in the final round.

Schreiner Mountaineers placed fifth at 49-over, followed closely by McMurry War Hawks at 50-over. Dallas Crusaders rounded out the standings at 57-over.

Individually, OLLU was led by Alex Marshall, who tied for 14th at 11-over par. Victor Pena-Cortes and Niall Langley-Brook each tied for 17th at 12-over, while Juan Limon and Ozil Trey Salinas added top-25 finishes to strengthen the team total. The Saints also received contributions from their individual competitors, who gained valuable tournament experience against a deep regional field.

The tie for third place positions OLLU well as the team continues to build rhythm early in the season. Competing closely with several established programs, the Saints demonstrated depth and the potential to contend as the season progresses.

OLLU Women’s Golf Finishes Runner-Up at Schreiner Shootout

The Our Lady of the Lake University Saints delivered a competitive performance at the Schreiner Shootout, earning a runner-up team finish against a challenging field.

The Saints posted a two-round total of 81-over par, improving by five strokes from the opening round. After carding a 43-over team score on day one, OLLU responded with a 38-over performance in the second round, highlighting the team’s ability to make adjustments and close the tournament with momentum.

Odessa College Wranglers claimed the team title with an impressive 18-over total, shooting consistent rounds of 9-over in both rounds. University of St. Thomas Celts finished third at 120-over, followed by University of the Southwest Mustangs at 124-over. Schreiner Mountaineers placed fifth with a 141-over total, and Dallas Crusaders rounded out the standings at 235-over.

Individually, Samantha Garcia led OLLU with a fifth-place finish at 12-over par, setting the tone for the Saints effort. Kendall Ward showed continued improvement between rounds to finish inside the top 10, while Grayson Weiler and Sophia Young each contributed steady scores that factored into the team total. Samantha Ziegler rounded out the teams performance.

The runner-up finish reflects continued progress for OLLU as the team builds consistency early in the season. The Saints were coming off a big week the previous week as they took first place and look to continue to build the momentum going forward.

OLLU’s Ward earns RRAC Women’s Golfer of the Week

Our Lady of the Lake’s (Texas) Kendall Ward‘s outstanding performance has earned her the RRAC Women’s Golfer of the Week for the dates of Feb. 23-March 1. This is the second set of the weekly awards.

RRAC Women’s Golfer of the Week – Kendall Ward – Our Lady of the Lake

At Hackberry Creek Country Club in Irving, Texas, the women of OLLU, led by junior Kendall Ward, captured the team title at the Crusaders Cup. Over 36 holes, OLLU finished at +111, posting rounds of +40 and +71 to secure first place ahead of eight other institutions. Ward earned a runner-up finish at +23, tying for second among a slate of 47 golfers. After an impressive +3 opening round, she battled through a tougher second day (+20) and still held her position among the tournament’s elite.

Ward is a native of Spring, Texas.

Saints Softball Climbs to No. 9 in NAIA Coaches Poll

The Our Lady of the Lake Saints softball team has earned national recognition in the latest NAIA Softball Coaches Top 25 Poll, continuing a strong start to the 2026 season. The Saints checked in at No. 9 in the first regular-season poll, receiving one first-place vote after compiling an impressive 14-1 record.

The poll, released by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, is led by Southern Oregon, which maintained the top position with 11 first-place votes and a 16-6 record. Eastern Oregon moved up to No. 2 with one first-place vote, while Oklahoma City sits at No. 3 after collecting three first-place selections. Oregon Tech climbed to No. 4 with two first-place votes, and Science and Arts of Oklahoma rounds out the top five.

Our Lady of the Lake’s rise to ninth place marks a notable jump from its previous ranking of No. 12, reflecting the program’s early-season success and consistency on the field. The Saints lone first-place vote highlights the respect the program has gained nationally as it continues to build momentum against a competitive schedule.

The Saints are one of two programs from Texas ranked in the poll, joining Texas A&M–Texarkana, which sits at No. 23 with a 12-4 record. Their presence in the Top 10 underscores the continued growth and competitiveness of the program within the NAIA landscape.

As the season progresses, Our Lady of the Lake will look to maintain its strong form and continue climbing in the national rankings. With a 14-1 record and early national recognition, the Saints have positioned themselves as one of the top contenders in NAIA softball this season. The Saints will look to add to their resume as they compete in Gulf Shores this weekend against elite NAIA Softball competition.

Big Offensive Day Lifts Saints Over Jaguars

The Our Lady of the Lake University Saints delivered an explosive offensive performance in a 15-5 victory over Texas A&M University–Victoria Jaguars, piling up 15 hits and capitalizing on timely at-bats to secure the win.

OLLU’s lineup produced contributions throughout the order, highlighted by Diego Zuniga‘s standout day at the plate. Zuniga went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run, driving in five runs to power the Saints attack. His production set the tone early and created separation as the game progressed.

Jack Kalisky sparked the offense from the top portion of the lineup, finishing 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a walk. Benjamin Hovda added two hits, an RBI and a stolen base, while Jacob Cueva crossed the plate four times and drove in a run. Brett Atkinson contributed two hits, including a double, and scored twice as OLLU consistently applied pressure.

Christian Martinez added an RBI triple and a sacrifice fly, and Aiden Gonzalez drove in two runs to round out the Saints 12 RBIs on the day. OLLU also showed discipline at the plate, drawing six walks and limiting strikeouts to nine across 37 at-bats.

On the mound, Ethan Garza earned the win after tossing four innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out one. Xavior Salazar followed with two strong innings, striking out three and allowing just one run. Nolan Nicholson closed the door over the final two frames, striking out four and surrendering only one unearned run to secure the victory.

Defensively, the Saints turned a double play and played clean baseball behind their pitching staff, limiting additional scoring opportunities for the Jaguars.

The Saints demonstrated a complete team effort in the decisive win. The OLLU Baseball team will be back in action Thursday at 2:00 PM CDT against Texas College in a three game series at Missions Baseball Academy.

Saints Capture Crusaders Cup Title

At Hackberry Creek Country Club in Irving, Texas, the women of Our Lady of the Lake University delivered a composed and commanding performance at the Crusaders Cup, capturing the team title against a deep and competitive field. Over 36 holes, OLLU finished at +111, posting rounds of +40 and +71 to secure first place ahead of eight other institutions. With divisional points displayed throughout the event, the Saints consistently saw their name at the top of the team leaderboard.

Individually, OLLU placed four golfers inside the top 11, reinforcing the depth that carried the Saints to victory. Kendall Ward led the way with a runner-up finish at +23, tying for second overall. After an impressive +3 opening round that put her firmly in contention, she battled through a tougher second day (+20) and still held her position among the tournament’s elite. Her performance matched that of Shay West from Hardin-Simmons, trailing only medalist Kinley Pessel of LeTourneau, who claimed individual honors at +16.

Samantha Garcia added another strong finish for OLLU, tying for sixth at +27 with rounds of +13 and +14. Her steady play across both days delivered crucial strokes in the team race, particularly during pivotal stretches on the back nine. Grayson Weiler secured ninth place at +30, following a balanced +13 first round with a +17 second round to remain inside the top 10. Sophia Young tied for 11th at +33, improving her position through disciplined course management and resilience over 36 holes.

Samantha Ziegler rounded out the Saints’ lineup with a tie for 31st at +49. After a challenging first round, she responded with a significantly improved second-round score, exemplifying the perseverance that defines OLLU’s culture. Every contribution mattered, and her determination helped solidify the overall team margin.

While other teams relied heavily on a single standout, the Saints placed multiple players near the top of the leaderboard, limiting volatility and maximizing scoring opportunities. With runner-up individual finish, four top-11 placements, and a decisive team victory, the Saints are trending in the right direction as they head to Kerrville on March 1st.

Litterio Repeats As RRAC Pitcher Of The Week

WACO, Texas (Feb. 23, 2026) – Thirteenth-ranked LSU Alexandria’s Haley Fontenot has been named RRAC Softball Player of the Week, while Our Lady of the Lake’s (Texas) Annika Litterio repeats as Pitcher of the Week for the dates of Feb. 16-22. This is the fifth set of weekly awards.

Senior right-handed pitcher Annika Litterio pitched in each of her team’s five wins last week. She tallied 10 innings in the doubleheader 7-2/9-6 victories over NCAA D2 St. Mary’s. She earned a win and a save as she struck out nine against the Rattlers. In the three-game series win over XULA (17-0/2-1/4-3), Litterio earned all three wins. She pitched 13.1 innings, allowing five hits, no unearned runs, and three walks while striking out 21 batters.

Litterio leads the RRAC with 38.2 innings pitched and 52 strikeouts.

OLLU, ranked 12th in the nation, has tallied 63.2 innings pitched while striking out 78, posting an ERA of 2.97. The Saints are 10-1 overall and 3-0 in conference.

Late Shift in Momentum Edges Saints in Tight Contest

Our Lady of the Lake delivered a strong overall performance but ultimately fell 8–7 to Nelson (Texas) in a tightly contested matchup.

Offensively, the Saints produced 12 hits and seven runs, demonstrating depth and power throughout the lineup. Benjamin Hovda went 2-for-4 with a home run, an RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base, setting the tone early. Jacob Cueva contributed a 3-for-4 performance with a home run and two RBIs, while Jack Kalisky turned in an exceptional day at the plate, finishing 4-for-4 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs. The Saints’ three home runs and six walks reflected disciplined at-bats and consistent pressure on Nelson’s pitching staff.

Additional contributions came across the lineup. CaliEvan Billela-Barstow reached base twice and scored, Christian Martinez added a hit and a stolen base, and Brett Atkinson chipped in with a hit and a run scored. OLLU consistently created opportunities, though 10 runners left on base proved significant in a one-run game.

On the mound, Ethan Garza provided a solid start, allowing two earned runs over four innings while striking out four. Mason Ruiz and Xavior Salazar combined for three scoreless innings in relief, helping the Saints maintain control through the middle portion of the game. Overall, OLLU pitchers recorded eight strikeouts and limited Nelson to nine hits.

The Saints will be back in action this weekend against Southwest on Friday and Saturday.