EDMOND, Oklahoma – The St. Mary's University softball team split a pair of games on Friday afternoon at the Edmond Regional Festival as they defeated Pittsburgh State, 6-4 on the heels of an
Abigale Carney grand slam but fell in game two to Rogers State, 4-3 on a walkoff homerun.
Game One
Pittsburgh State struck first in the opening frame, plating two runs on a two-out double but the Rattlers answered in the home half of the inning when
Bari Christian roped a double into the left center field gap to score
Victoria Aldridge and
Taylor Germain, tying the game at two runs apiece.
Aldridge reached for the second time in as many at bats in the bottom of the third inning as she recorded her first double of the season and advanced to third on a groundout by Germain. A pop out and a line out stranded Aldridge at third.
Pittsburgh State broke the tie in the top of the fifth inning as the Gorillas scored two runs on three hits to take a 4-2 advantage.
St. Mary's took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when Carney belted her second grand slam of the season to put the Rattlers ahead 6-4, a score that would eventually be final.
Alex McLennan picked up her third win of the season as the junior tossed five innings, allowing four runs on five hits and striking out three.
Julia Cruz earned her first save of the season as she shut the door on the Pittsburgh State offense over the final two innings.
Jayme Johns finished the game 1-for-3, extending her career-high hitting streak to 12 games.
Victoria Aldridge and
Tiffany Licon each finished with two hits.
Game Two
Rogers State took an early 3-0 lead in the home half of the third. After St. Mary's starting pitcher struck out the first two batters of the inning, the Hillcats got two runners aboard before the bases were cleared via a three-run homerun.
Amber Gonzales got things going in the top of the fifth for the Rattlers as she ripped a double down the left field line. Gonzales gave way to pinch runner,
Jessica Day who moved up to third on a passed ball.
Alex Moreno delivered the big hit in the inning as the junior sent a ball over the wall in left center field for her first homerun of the season, cutting the St. Mary's deficit to one.
St. Mary's threatened in the top of the sixth frame when the go-ahead run moved into scoring position but the Ratters stranded their fourth and fifth baserunners of the game, remaining down a run heading to the bottom of the inning.
Licon picked up her second hit of the game in the top of the seventh with a single left field, bringing the go-ahead run and the Rattlers hottest hitter in
Jayme Johns to the plate. Just as Johns has done all season, she came through with a clutch single to extend the inning but an error from the Hillcats center fielder allowed Licon to score, tying the game at three. Johns reached third on the error and would be stranded.
Rogers State ended the game in the bottom of the seventh with a walkoff homerun, defeating St. Mary's, 4-3.
Jayme Johns finished with two hits, extending her hitting streak to 13 games.
Up Next
The Rattlers will continue action in the Edmond Regional Festival tomorrow as they take on Nebraska Kearney at 2:00 p.m. and Fort Hays State at 6:00 p.m. at Oklahoma Christian's Tom Heath Field.
