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Box Score 2 SAN ANTONIO — Rattler Softball has guaranteed its home field advantage in the upcoming Heartland Conference Championship Tournament, clinching the regular-season title at home Sunday with a doubleheader split against Oklahoma Christian.
The Rattlers won the title with a five-inning, run-rule in Game 1, 11-2, going to split in Game 2 with a 3-0 loss.
The Heartland Conference championship earned Sunday is the Rattlers' 13
th in 14 seasons, as they will go for their second straight tournament championship in May at The Park.
With the split, the Rattlers now sit with a 41-8 overall record and recorded their first conference loss on the season to drop to 16-1.
The No. 3 Rattlers put up a five and six spot in the shortened Game 1, with
Taylor Vidrine (Jr., San Antonio) capping off a five-run second inning with a two-run homer.
Vidrine led Game 1 with three RBI in recording her fourth homer on the season. The home-run hitter also led with two hits along with
Nicole Sardelich (Jr., Angleton, Texas) and
Haley Richter (Jr., Hondo, Texas) in the nine-hit victory.
Emily Brittain (Sr., Corpus Christi, Texas) picked up the title-clinching victory on the mound in Game 1, improving to 22-4 in the complete game.
A pitcher's duel ensued in Game 2 with both teams going hitless until the third inning with an Eagle single.
The Eagles (29-14, 11-5 in conference) were able to pick up three runs in the sixth after back-to-back doubles that the Rattlers were unable to contest, as St. Mary's picked up just one hit in Game 2.
Maricela Bissaro (Sr., San Antonio) was charged with the loss in Game 2, falling to 8-3 on the season.
The Rattlers conclude the series with the Eagles with a single game at 11 a.m. Monday inside The Park at St. Mary's.
