CONROE, Texas – The St. Mary's University Softball team opened up its 2020 campaign on Friday, taking on No. 14 Southern Arkansas University and Arkansas Tech University as part of the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational.
GAME ONE
In the season opener against Southern Arkansas, the Rattlers had a runner in scoring position early as
Victoria Aldridge drew a one-out walk and advanced on a sacrifice bunt from
Taylor Germain but St. Mary's came up empty leaving Aldridge stranded at second in the bottom of the first inning.
Southern Arkansas struck first in the top half of the second inning, scoring two runs on two hits, and one St. Mary's error. In the home half of the inning, the Rattlers got two runners aboard as
Aracelli Sanchez reached on an error and
Alex Moreno was hit by a pitch. For the second straight inning the Rattlers left runners stranded.
Southern Arkansas put the game out of reach in the fifth and six innings, combining for eight runs.
Jayme Johns, Aldridge, and
Tiffany Licon each recorded a hit for the Rattlers.
GAME TWO
After giving up two runs in the first inning, St. Mary's pitcher
Staci Johns settled in and retired nine of the next 10 Arkansas Tech batter. The Rattlers offense came alive in the top of the fourth against Arkansas Tech as Johns belted her first homerun of the year over the left field fence to even the game at two.
Bari Christian got things started in the top of the fifth, reaching on a single to left field. Licon drove in Christian with a single up the middle to put the Rattlers in front, 3-2. Cerda and Licon each drove in a run in the top of the sixth to extend the St. Mary's lead to 5-2.
A three-run inning by Arkansas Tech evened the game at five heading into the final inning. A two-out walk by Johns put the go-ahead run on first base for the Rattlers in the top of the seventh inning but for the sixth time in the game, the Rattlers left a runner stranded.
Arkansas Tech drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh and that run came around to score on a walk-off single.
Johns tossed six complete innings, allowing five runs on six hits and struck out two.
St. Mary's will return to the diamond tomorrow as they take on No. 1 Augustana and Minnesota Duluth.
Live stats for both games can be found
HERE
