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Box Score 2
GOODWELL, Okla. — Don't expect St. Mary's
Haley Richter to get much to swing at the next time she heads to the plate with the bases loaded.
For that matter, opposing pitches might want to avoid pitching to
Christina Rodriguez, too.
Richter, the Rattlers' emerging slugger, blasted a pair of grand slams in Friday's victories over Oklahoma Panhandle State, giving her three grand slams in the past two weeks and four on the season. Rodriguez added a grand slam of her own on the day for St. Mary's, which won 12-0 and 17-1 in a pair of five-inning run-rule victories.
Richter, a sophomore first baseman from Hondo, Texas, totaled 10 RBIs over two games as the Rattlers kept a one-game lead over St. Edward's for first place in the Heartland Conference.
With the wins, the Rattlers improved to 36-12 on the season and a league-leading 11-0 in Heartland play.
Emily Brittain threw a two-hit shutout of OPSU in Game 1, striking out two and walking none to improve to 21-4 on the season.
Maricela Bissaro won Game 2 to improve to 4-2 on the year on the strength of three quality innings.
Richter went 2 for 4 with four RBIs and a run scored in Game 1, and followed up that performance with a 4-for-4 showing with six RBIs and two runs scored in the nightcap.
Rodriguez totaled five RBIs over the two games, while
Shelly Lee Zawadzki added four.
The power-hitting Rattlers now have 47 home runs on the season, ranking fourth most for a single season in school history. The school record is 59, set in 2005.
Richter and the Rattlers will attempt to continue inching toward that mark as they get back on the field Saturday to wrap up their three-game series with OPSU. Game time is set for Noon.
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.
