Rattlers use 8-run 6th inning to win NFCA D-II Leadoff Classic title

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Story by Chad Peters | St. Mary's Athletics Communications

TUCSON, Ariz. — St. Mary's took the NFCA Division II Leadoff Classic championship in dramatic fashion Sunday.

The No. 16-ranked Rattlers used an eight-run sixth inning to overcome a five-run deficit to Central Oklahoma, and St. Mary's held on to narrowly escape with a 10-9 victory for the tournament title.

Earlier in the day, St. Mary's (6-0) knocked off nemesis West Texas A&M, the nation's top-ranked team and the defending national champion, 7-1 to advance to the championship game.

Vianna Gutierrez Touchtone two-hit the Lady Buffs, who last season eliminated St. Mary's from the NCAA Super Regional to advance to the World Series. Gutierrez picked up her third victory of the season by thumping the Buffs, and also blasted a home run and drove in three runs at the plate.

As a result of her mastery on the diamond over the weekend, Gutierrez Touchtone was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Taylor Vidrine also went yard with a solo blast in the fifth inning against the Lady Buffs, providing the Rattlers with additional run support after taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The senior followed that up that smash with a two-run homer in the championship-game victory over Central Oklahoma.

Complete stats of the championship game against Central Oklahoma are not yet available.

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Players Mentioned

#50 Vianna Gutierrez Touchtone: P/1B; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

#19 Taylor Vidrine: UT; 5' 9"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#50 Vianna Gutierrez Touchtone
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: P/1B

#19 Taylor Vidrine
: 5' 9"; Senior; R/R
: UT

St. Mary's University Athletics

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Rattlers use 8-run 6th inning to win NFCA D-II Leadoff Classic title

Players Mentioned

#50 Vianna Gutierrez Touchtone

#19 Taylor Vidrine

Players Mentioned

#50 Vianna Gutierrez Touchtone

#19 Taylor Vidrine

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