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Scoreboard

Hannah Fields
Brian Magloyoan
Hannah Fields (left) at the plate against West Texas A&M.
3
Winner West Texas A&M WTAMU 58-3
1
St. Mary's STMU 47-14
Winner
West Texas A&M WTAMU
58-3
3
Final
1
St. Mary's STMU
47-14
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
West Texas A&M WTAMU 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 8 0
St. Mary's STMU 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 1

W: Kilee Halbert (26-2) L: Russell, Hope (8-6) S: Tori Bayer (13)

Game Recap: Softball | | RattlerAthletics.com

Rattlers' return to Super Regional ends with 3-1 defeat to #1 WT

By Chad Peters | St. Mary's Athletics Communications

CANYON, Texas — The embrace was long.

Wiping away tears, Hannah Fields and Sydney Wellmann hugged tightly in the Schaeffer Park dugout following St. Mary's 3-1 elimination loss to West Texas A&M in Thursday's NCAA Division II Super Regional, allowing a year's worth of hopes, dreams and expectations to flood through the two seniors' minds. 

When St. Mary's lost two-thirds of its starting lineup after making it to the College Softball World Series last year, few outside the program realistically thought a new-look squad featuring only three returning starters in the field could repeat that success. 

But then came a regular-season that featured a 19-game winning streak and a No. 9 national ranking; and then a Heartland Conference championship — their 15th in 16 years; and then a berth in the South Central Regional, which the Rattlers hosted — and won in thrilling, come-from-behind fashion; and finally, a third consecutive trip to the Super Regional, where the Rattlers would face the nation's No. 1-ranked team, West Texas A&M, for a chance to return to the World Series. 

"I don't think anybody thought we could be where we are now," said Wellmann, who along with LeeAnn Campos, Veronica Garcia and Fields represents the program's senior class. "Me and Hannah made it our goal to prove everybody wrong. I think we did that (even though) we fell short here today."

They certainly silenced any doubters— and they did it in typical Rattler fashion, where success is defined by more than what just happens between the lines. 

When she wasn't working on building a career year at the plate that featured a .306 average and 18 RBI, Fields was busy serving as President of the St. Mary's Student-Athlete Committee and building the sort of all-around resume it takes to win the prestigious Presidential Award. 

When Sydney Wellmann wasn't busy putting together a season that featured the third-most home runs ever hit by a Rattler (16), she was shining in the classroom, joining Fields on the CoSIDA Academic All-DIstrict Team. 

And long before third baseman Hannah Michel was winning National Hitter of the Week awards, she was doing missionary work in South Africa, doing everything from working optic and shoe clings to spending time at orphanages. 

That is just a small sample of the kind of women that make up head coach Donna Fields' program.

"We talk in trying to develop that program where what we're doing off the field — classroom, social life, spiritual growth — reflects on who you are," coach Fields said. "We have a fine group of young ladies. I love every single one of them and how they represent the university."

Said the younger Fields: "I've had more than any girl who goes to play collegiate ball could ever ask for. The girls we've had this year have stepped up and turned into amazing leaders on and off the field. I'm so happy that I've had the opportunity to play with all of them. 

"I wouldn't change anything in the world."

Against WT (58-3) on Thursday, St. Mary's couldn't overcome a 1-0 first-inning deficit that seemed to hang over the Rattlers' head all game. The Buffs added to it with a two-run home run in the top of the seventh, meaning Miranda Medina's solo home run in the bottom of the inning wouldn't be enough to force extra innings. 

Hope Russell sparkled in the circle, limiting the high-powered Buffs to that single run for the majority of the game while striking out a season-high six batters. 

St. Mary's countered with five hits, but couldn't capitalize on three separate scoring opportunities in which the Rattlers advanced a runner to third base. 

Still, even in defeat, the Rattlers could walk away proud of all they had achieved in returning to the Super Regional. 

"We have a fine group of young ladies," coach Fields said. "I'm proud to be a part of them.
 
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