Softball Splits With MSU Denver

DENVER, Colo. – Hitting .305 as a team for the day, the St. Mary's Softball team split a doubleheader at MSU Denver, dropping game one 5-4 before bouncing back for the 8-2 victory in game two.
 
The Rattlers (11-3) snapped their nine-game winning streak with the loss in game one, but jumped out early in game two and never looked back. They combined for 12 runs on 18 hits with a pair of doubles, two home runs and four stolen bases on the day.
 
StMU remains in Colorado during the South Central Regional Crossover, facing Regis on Sunday in a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
Despite back-to-back home runs by freshmen Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio) and Lauryn Ramos (Marion, Texas) in the fourth inning, the Rattlers couldn't hold the lead as the Roadrunners (7-4) answered every time. 
 
It is the first time since 2018 St. Mary's has had players hit home runs in back-to-back at bats and the 31st time in the team's Division II era. The last to do it were Raynelle Nash and Brenda Iparraguirre in the seventh frame at Rogers State.
 
Freshman Savannah Youngblood (Kingswood, Texas) was credited with her first loss of the season (4-1). She was in the circle the final 2.1 innings, giving up one unearned run on four hits with two strikeouts. Abrego pitched the first 3.2 frames, allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
 
GAME TWO RECAP
The Rattlers plated four in the first inning and one run in each of the next four frames for the 8-2 win.
 
Freshman Cassidy Mageors (Freeport, Texas) doubled to center to kick things off. Senior Victoria Aldridge (Elgin, Texas) and Abrego singled back-to-back and with one out sophomore Ericka Gomez (Stafford, Texas) singled past the shortstop. Senior Abigale Carney (El Paso, Texas) was hit by a pitch and a single to right field off the bat of Bari Christian (San Antonio) scored two more for the 4-0 lead.
 
Aldridge led the offense, going 3-for-3 with two singles, a double and a pair of walks in the nightcap. Gomez and Christian were 2-for-4, while senior Tiffany Licon (Austin, Texas) was 2-for-3 with two RBI. 
 
Junior Catalina Cavazos (Houston) pitched a complete game to improve to 5-0 on the season. She allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts.