SAN ANTONIO – Tying the school record in each game of the doubleheader with three triples, the St. Mary's Softball team swept a pair of games from visiting Texas Woman's on Sunday afternoon, winning 7-1 and 11-3.
The six triples on the day brings the Rattlers (9-9, 5-3 Lone Star Conference) season total to nine. Junior
Bari Christian (San Antonio) blasted three of the three-baggers, going 4-for-5 for the day. She also added a double, three runs and five RBI.
Abigale Carney (El Paso, Texas),
Tiffany Licon (Austin, Texas) and
Reba Reyes (Brownsville, Texas) each also tripled in the twinbill.
The Rattlers hit .400 as a team and nine of the 20 hits were for extra bases. Both Reyes and
Cassidy Brawley (Castroville, Texas) also stole a base in the lopsided victories.
The pitching staff also did a good job of keeping the Pioneers (4-9, 3-5 Lone Star) off balance. Senior
Alex McLennan (Austin) won both contests, throwing in relief in each. On the day, she pitched 6.1 innings, giving up just two hits and one unearned run. Freshman
Sara Robertson (Lorena, Texas) started game one, giving up one unearned run on five hits in three innings of work. She didn't walk anyone and struck out one. Senior
Julia Cruz (Asherton, Texas) was in the circle for the start of game two, surrendering two runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout over 2.2 frames.
St. Mary's extends its winning streak to four-straight and continues its home stretch with two games on Friday against Cameron and a doubleheader against Oklahoma Christian on Sunday. Friday's contests are scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
GAME ONE RECAP
TWU took the 1-0 lead in the third inning with an error and three-straight singles, but the Rattlers responded with six runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Senior
Alex Moreno (El Paso) reached on a fielding error by the second baseman to start things off. Sophomore
Lauren Garcia (San Antonio) laid down the perfect bunt right in front of home plate for a single. Senior
Amber Gonzales (Austin) sacrificed herself to advance the two runners and they both scored on a single up the middle by pinch-hitter
Ericka Gomez (Stafford, Texas). Licon singled through the right side,
Jayme Johns (Elgin, Texas) singled up the middle to plate Gomez and knocked the starter out of the game. With two outs, Christian tripled to clear the bases and Carney followed with a triple of her own for the 6-1 lead.
The Rattlers tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth for the 7-1 victory. StMU scored its seven runs on eight hits with four TWU errors, while the Pioneers scored one run on six hits with one Rattler miscue.
GAME TWO RECAP
St. Mary's jumped out early, plating three runs in the first. Johns was hit to lead off. With one out, Christian walked and with two outs, Moreno singled through the left side and a throwing error by the left fielder allowed both to score. A single off the bat of Garcia gave the Rattlers the 3-0 edge.
The Pioneers scored one in the top of the second and with two outs, Johns bunted for a single, Reyes singled and both scored on a double down the right field line by Christian for the 5-1 lead.
TWU added a second run in the top of the third, but the Rattlers pushed four across in the fourth with three triples and a home run by Moreno.
The Pioneers scored their third run in the fifth, but the Rattlers offense wasn't finished, getting back-to-back singles to begin their half of the frame from
Reina Herrera (San Antonio) and
Cassidy Brawley (Castroville, Texas). Moreno, returning to the lineup for Herrera scored on the Brawley hit after moving to third on consecutive throwing errors back to the circle by the catcher. Licon walked and Johns doubled to left center for the run-rule 11-3 victory.
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