SAN ANTONIO – The St. Mary's Softball team took care of business on Sunday against Western New Mexico, defeating the Mustangs via the eight-run-rule twice. The Rattlers took the first game, 8-0 before winning the second 11-0.
Big innings in both games led to the sweep for St. Mary's as the Rattlers opened game one scoring five innings in the first and plated eight runs in the fourth inning in game two.
Game One Recap
Victoria Aldridge started a one-out rally in the opening inning with a single up the middle.
Bari Christian followed with a single and moved up on the throw to put Rattlers at second and third with cleanup hitter,
Abigale Carney coming to bat. Carney picked up three RBI as she blasted her seventh home run of the season to give St. Mary's an early 3-0 lead.
Reba Reyes and
Tiffany Licon reached on hits and both would score on singles from
Alex Moreno and
Amber Gonzales. After one inning, St. Mary's led 5-0.
Carney struck again in the fourth inning, belting her eighth home run of the season, a two-run shot scoring Christian who reached on a single. The blast gave the Rattlers a 7-0 advantage.
Moreno led off the Rattlers fifth inning with a double and gave way to pinch runner,
Rebekah Hubacek.
Ericka Gomez came on to pinch hit and ripped a single up the middle and advanced on the throw, putting runners at second and third with the top of the order up.
Jayme Johns doubled to centerfield to score both Hubacek and Gomez and ending the game.
Eight Rattlers recorded hits in the win including six with two hits. Carney picked up five RBI in the win.
Sara Robertson earned the win in the circle as she tossed a complete game allowing just three hits. Robertson improved her record to 4-4 on the year with the win.
Game Two Recap
The second game of the day was more of the same for the Rattlers. The Mustangs pitchers struggled to find the strike zone, issuing six walks in the opening frame. Reyes, Licon, and Moreno all drew bases loaded walks to put up RBI in the inning and give St. Mary's a 3-0 lead.
After stranding three runners on the base paths in both the second and third inning, the St. Mary's offense cashed in during the fourth frame. St. Mary's scored eight runs in the inning which is the most since February 22, 2020 when the Rattlers plated 11 against Nebraska-Kearney in the fifth inning.
The Rattlers got two runners on with one out bringing Licon to the plate. The lefty pulled an inside pitch and sent it over the wall for a three-run shot, giving St. Mary's a 6-0 lead.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Aldridge doubled to centerfield to score three runs and extend the StMU lead to 9-0. Aldridge came in to score on a Christian double, making it 10-0. The Rattlers collectively hit for the cycle in the inning with a home run from Licon, a triple from Aldridge, a double from Christian, and singles from four players, including a pinch-hit single from
Reina Herrera.
St. Mary's starter
Julia Cruz retired the Mustangs in order in the fifth to close out the game. Cruz moves to 4-4 on the year with the win.
The Rattlers will hit the road this weekend for their final road trip of the year. St. Mary's will battle UT Tyler on Friday and Texas A&M Commerce on Sunday.
