JACKSON, Mississippi – Mariely Duran delivered the storybook ending last Saturday afternoon, lacing a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Arlington Baptist Patriots to a stunning 4-3 victory over NCAA Division I Grambling State University in the River City Classic.
With the game knotted at three and the winning run on base, Duran came through in the clutch, sending the Patriots and their fans into a frenzy as the NCCAA program knocked off a Division I opponent in dramatic fashion.
 
Back-and-Forth Battle
The contest was a true pitcher's duel early on, with Arlington Baptist drawing first blood in the bottom of the third when Caelie Evans drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.
But Grambling State answered quickly in the top of the fourth, as Kamryn Broussard singled down the left field line to tie the game at one. The Tigers then seized their first lead in the fifth inning when Kamille Carter delivered an RBI single, pushing Grambling ahead 2-1.
Arlington Baptist refused to fold, manufacturing the tying run in the bottom of the fifth when Elizabeth Werner lifted a sacrifice fly to knot the score at two.
 
Drama in the Eighth
The game remained deadlocked until the top of the eighth, when Grambling State appeared poised to steal the victory. After starting extras with the ghost runner, Hailey Hughes tagged up and scored on a fly ball to put Grambling ahead 3-2, silencing the growing crowd of ABU supporters who had the sense something special was brewing.
But Patriot Magic would make its inaugural appearance for this season, as the Patriots had one final rally in them.
In the bottom of the eighth, with the ghost runner aboard, Ambrosia Pena ignited the comeback with a clutch single. Duran then stepped to the plate and delivered the game-winning hit, plating the tying and winning runs to complete the thrilling 4-3 walk-off victory.
 
Santillan Shines in Relief
Freshman Alayna Santillan earned the win for Arlington Baptist with stellar relief work, tossing two innings while allowing just three hits and one unearned run in her clutch performance.
Starter Jenika Fuentes kept the Patriots in the game early, scattering 12 hits and two runs over six solid innings while striking out two and walking three.
Grambling State's Jaidan Richard suffered the tough-luck loss despite pitching seven and two-thirds strong innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and four walks.
 
Offensive Fireworks
The bottom of Arlington Baptist's order came alive, as Roo Stone, Olivia Tefft, and Miranda Machado combined for four of the team's eight hits and scored two crucial runs.
Pena and Stone each collected two hits to pace the Patriots' attack. Pena, Werner, Evans, and Duran each drove in one run, with Duran's proving to be the game-winner.
Arlington Baptist terrorized Grambling State on the basepaths, with Pena and Stone each swiping multiple bags in the victory.
 
Statement Victory
The walk-off win over a Division I program marks yet another signature moment for the Arlington Baptist softball program, proving the Patriots can compete with college softball's elite when they execute.  The victory is the second win over a NCAA Division I program in program history, as the Patriots defeated Southern University in 2023.
As the dust settled and celebrations continued, one thing was clear: these Patriots had announced their arrival on the big stage with the return of the program's signature "Patriot Magic."
The Patriots will return to action at Huston-Tillotson on Saturday before returning home for a series with Haskell on Monday and Tuesday, followed by the first ever visit by an NCAA Division I program as Southern comes to town on Friday, Feb 20.