Softball Sweeps Doubleheader in Seguin

SEGUIN, Texas – Playing in high-gusting winds, the St. Mary's Softball team swept a doubleheader at Texas Lutheran, winning game one 2-1 in eight innings and 2-1 in the nightcap in seven.
 
The wind blew consistently at 15-20 mph throughout the two games with gusts into the 40's at the home of Division III No. 3 Texas Lutheran. The two wins give the Rattlers a 10-2 record on the season and extend the winning streak to nine straight, while TLU is now 2-2.
 
The Rattlers head to Colorado for a pair of doubleheaders in the South Central Region Crossover event, playing at MSU Denver on Saturday and Regis on Sunday.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
Texas Lutheran scored one in the bottom of the first and the Rattlers tied things up with one in the fifth and won the game with a run in the eighth.
 
With one out in the fifth, freshman catcher Mine'e Padilla (San Antonio) singled back up the middle into center and junior Katerina McLennan (Austin, Texas) pinch ran for her. Senior Tiffany Licon (Austin) also hit a ball to centerfield and senior Victoria Aldridge (Elgin, Texas) singled to left to load the bases. Senior Jayme Johns (Elgin) hit a long fly ball to left – that would have cleared the fence had the wind not been blowing so hard – but it was good for the sacrifice fly.
 
In the eighth, senior Abigale Carney (El Paso, Texas) blasted a triple down the right field line and scored on a fly ball to centerfield to give senior Amber Gonzales (Austin) a sacrifice fly and the Rattlers the 2-1 win. Freshman pitcher Savannah Youngblood (Kingwood, Texas) retired the Bulldogs in order in the bottom of the frame.
 
Freshman Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio) pitched three innings in a no decision for the Rattlers, allowing one run on two hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Youngblood entered in the bottom of the fourth inning and surrendered just two hits with one strikeout to improve to 4-0 on the year.

Aldridge was 3-for-4 in the game, while Licon was 2-for-4 as the Rattlers amassed their two runs on 11 hits and Carney drew the only walk.
 
GAME TWO RECAP
Like they've done most of the season, the Rattlers jumped out to the early lead, plating two in the second and holding on for the 2-1 victory.
 
In the top of the second with one out, Gonzales doubled to left and scored on a Padilla single to center. McLennan again pinch ran for Padilla, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on an error by the second baseman on a ball off the bat of Licon.
 
In the fourth, the Bulldogs scored one after back-to-back hits to start the inning and a sacrifice fly with one out for the 2-1 score. TLU threatened in the fifth with a one-out triple, but Madison Johnson overslid the bag at third and Licon was right there to apply the tag. In the sixth, Padilla threw out a would-be base stealer at second, ending the chance at tying the game.
 
Junior Catalina Cavazos (Houston) improved to 4-0 on the season, throwing 6.2 innings. She allowed one run on seven hits, walking three and striking out three in her seventh appearance. Youngblood earned her first save of the year, striking out the only batter she faced for the team's second save in 2022.
 
Abrego had the only multi-hit game for the Rattlers in the nightcap, going 2-for-4. Johns was the only batter to walk, doing so twice as the team had seven hits.