Box Score WICHITA, Kan. —
Haley Richter wasted little time to put St. Mary's stamp on Saturday's series finale versus Newman.
The St. Mary's slugger blasted a three-run bomb in the first inning, all part of a five-run first frame that fueled the No. 5-ranked Rattlers' 7-4 victory over the Jets.
Richter totaled three RBIs on the day while ace
Emily Brittain struck out four to pick up the win in the circle, improving to 21-3 on the season despite seeing her six-game shutout streak snapped by the Jets (13-21).
It marked St. Mary's (40-5) fourth straight win since seeing its 18-game win streak snapped earlier in the week, and also improved the Rattlers Heartland Conference record to 15-0. The Rattlers hold a healthy lead over the second-place Texas A&M International, leading the Dustdevils (8-7) by seven games in the loss column with nine games remaining.
After falling behind 5-0 in the first, Newman responded admirably in the third, as Furr drilled a two-RBI triple to fuel a three-run effort.
But the Rattlers settled back in to create a little more breathing room, with
Nicole Sardelich's two-RBI double in the third extending their lead to 7-3.
Taylor Vidrine,
Alex Rodriguez and
Amanda Villa all enjoyed two=hit days, while Sardelich and Villa finished with two RBIs apiece.
St. Mary's will return to the diamond on Tuesday, when it hosts Angelo State in a "Neon Night" doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. at the Softball Stadium inside The Park at St. Mary's. All fans wearing neon will be entered to win Fiesta Oyster Bake prizes, which will be handed out throughout the games.
