Box Score
SAN ANTONIO — In Friday's doubleheader against Oklahoma Christian,
Haley Richter had to settle for a ground-rule double after her would-be homer pinged off the outfield post. In the series finale Saturday, the St. Mary's sophomore got her homer.
Bases were loaded in the bottom of the seventh with the Rattlers down one when Richter (So., Hondo, Texas) took one pitch and then decisively ended the thriller with a walk-off grand slam to win it 8-5 for the series sweep.
The Rattlers held a steady lead throughout the stretch and were up 4-0 in the top of the seventh thanks to a quality start from
Maricela Bissaro (Jr., San Antonio), who tossed six scoreless innings. But Oklahoma Christian didn't come all the way down to Texas without packing its desire to win.
A rally and a three-run home run sparked a five-run last at-bat for the Eagles (18-20) as they took a 5-4 lead into the final frame. A leadoff single from Shelly Lee Zawakdzi (Sr., San Antonio) gave the Rattlers hope in the all-or-nothing last inning.
A sac bunt from
Taylor Vidrine (So., San Antonio) turned error and then stolen base left the bases loaded after
Christina Rodriguez (Sr., San Antonio) drew a walk. With zero outs, St. Mary's didn't need the leniency as Ritcher worked a pitching change to her advantage and ended the game with her second grand slam on the season.
“Honestly I was just trying to get a hit,” said Richter of her walk off grand slam. “I hadn't done much at the plate all day and we were down one and really I was just telling myself, 'Get a hit.'”
And hit she did.
St. Mary's dazzling finish Saturday gave it the series sweep over the Eagles and puts it on a six-game winning streak, improving to 34-12 on the season.
In her one hit on the day, Richter tallied a team-high four RBIs with her homer, followed by Vidrine who picked up 2 RBIs.
Nicole Sardelich (So., Angleton, Texas) continues to thrive as the Rattlers' leadoff and best hitter as she eyes the St. Mary's record for most doubles in a single season, set at 24. Sardelich picked up two doubles Saturday in her 3-for-4 stance, bringing her season total to 22.
Emily Brittain (Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas) took over the mound in the seventh, tossing 2/3 innings to record the win. Brittain is now 20-4 on the season following her second win in the series as she also recorded the win in Game 1.
St. Mary's gets back into Heartland Conference play against Oklahoma Panhandle State with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Friday in Goodwell, Okla.
St. Mary's University, as a Catholic Marianist University, fosters the formation of people in faith and educates leaders for the common good through community service, integrated liberal arts and professional education, and academic excellence. The University has six athletic national titles: men's basketball (1989–NAIA), baseball (2001–NCAA Div. II), softball (1986–NAIA and 2002–NCAA Div. II) and an individual national champion in men's golf (2006–NCAA Div. II) and a national academic championship in men's golf (2009–NCAA Div. II). St. Mary's also had more than 40 percent of its athletes named to conference, regional and/or national honor rolls this past year. St. Mary's student–athletes graduation rate is 65 percent, higher than the NCAA Division II average of 55 percent. To learn more about St. Mary's, visit www.rattlerathletics.com.
