SAN ANTONIO – Two strong pitching performances helped lead the St. Mary's Softball team to its first series sweep of the season. The Rattlers moved to 7-9 overall and 3-3 in Lone Star Conference play with a 4-2 and 1-0 victory over the Midwestern State Mustangs on Friday night.
The Rattlers got two quality starts, the first from freshman
Sara Robertson and the second from senior
Julia Cruz. Robertson tossed five innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits. In the nightcap, Cruz went five innings and earned the win, allowing just three hits while striking out three batters.
Alex McLennan earned back-to-back saves tonight, tossing four hitless innings over the two games.
Game one recap
In the opening frame, the Mustangs loaded the bases with one out. On the backend of an attempted 5-2-3 double play, the Rattlers threw the ball away, allowing Midwestern State to plate a run and take a 1-0 lead.
Jayme Johns led off the home half of the first, laying down a perfectly placed bunt to reach first. After a
Reba Reyes walk,
Bari Christian put down a sacrifice bunt to move Johns to third and Reyes to second.
Abigale Carney put the Rattlers on top with a single up the middle, scoring both runners on base.
Carney struck again in the third inning. With Christin aboard, Carney launched a ball deep over the left field fence into the St. Mary's bullpen to put the Rattlers up 4-1 after three complete. The home run was the third of the season for Carney. The junior finished game one with four RBI and a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate.
Another St. Mary's error in the fifth allowed the Mustangs to score one more run but McLennan came on in relief in the sixth and slammed the door. McLennan faced seven batters and retired six.
Game two recap
In the nightcap, it was a pitcher's duel from start-to-finish. Both teams combined for just six hits over seven innings.
Cruz retired 12 of the first 13 Mustang batters she faced, keeping it a 0-0 game headed to the bottom of the fourth inning. Christian led off the fourth frame with a stand-up triple into the right center field gap. Carney who picked up four RBI in the first game, added another in second as she logged a sacrifice fly in the fourth to score Christian and give St. Mary's a 1-0 advantage.
One run would be all Cruz and McLennan needed. Cruz exited the game in the top of the sixth after allowing a leadoff single. McLennan got the next batter to fly out and then induced a a 6-4-3 double play to end the Mustang threat.
With one out in the seventh, a sinking line drive was hit out to right field and Carney impressed on the defensive side, making her second sliding grab of the night to keep the Mustangs off the bases. McLennan sealed the deal as the senior snagged a hard-hit line drive right back at her to end the game.
The Rattlers will return to the diamond on Sunday as they host Texas Woman's University at the Softball Field. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
