Box Score SAN ANGELO, Texas — St. Mary's centerfielder
Katie Nichols wasn't worried about her future back on April 1 when she collided with teammate
Taylor Vidrine on a fly ball in the outfield.
Nichols couldn't worry at the time — she was in far too much pain to think about what might be ahead.
The senior would go on to miss the next 14 games because of the shoulder injury she suffered on the play, a sequence of events that played a role in nearly derailing the Rattlers' season as they went 7-7 to close out the regular season with her missing from the lineup.
Fast-forward to Saturday, with Nichols making her fourth start since returning from injury, and the Rattlers are rolling once again.
Nichols went 2 for 3 with two RBI and ace
Emily Brittain pitched a two-hit shutout to lead No. 14 St. Mary's past No. 7 Angelo State 5-0 in the second round of the NCAA Division II South Central Region 2 Tournament.
"You know, you don't realize when you don't have something until you get that something back," head coach
Donna Fields said of Nichols' return. "How much ground she covers in the outfield, her communication, her stick in the lineup — she's just a great centerfielder."
Third-seeded St. Mary's (48-12) will meet up with second-seeded Angelo State once again in Sunday's regional final, set to begin at 2 p.m. at Angelo State's Mayer Field. St. Mary's can advance to the Super Regional with one win, while Angelo State must take two games from the Rattlers to move on.
For Nichols, she couldn't happier to be back for a Rattler squad that is making its 12
th regional appearance in 14 seasons.
"I didn't even think about my future," Nichols said. "When I collided it hurt so bad. When I came out I just remembered thinking I wanted to get back for my team. Even if it hurts I wanted to come back. It feels good to be back."
St. Mary's used a four-run second inning to jump on Angelo State early, a lead they would extend with an insurance run in the fourth.
Taylor Vidrine and
Nicole Sardelich each had an RBI in the game, while
Alena Moreno led the team with two runs scored.
Brittain fanned five in her nation-leading 15
th shutout to improve to 29-6 on the season. Ever since missing out on the Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Year award, Brittain has gone 5-0 with four shutouts, including a one- and- two-hitter.
But the senior from Corpus Christi, Texas is the first to acknowledge it's not all about her. The defense behind her was phenomenal Sunday, with shortstop
Miranda Medina and Moreno, the right fielder, both making diving grabs, and second baseman
Amanda Villa turning in a handful of difficult stops.
"It's a team sport," Brittain said. "I couldn't do it without them behind me. We're playing well."
St. Mary's is 2-3 this season against Angelo State, with a 2-1 mark at Mayer Field.
The winner of Sunday's championship game will move on to face the winner of the South Central Region 1 bracket between West Texas A&M and Midwestern State.
