Carney's Four Home Runs Lift Softball Past MSU

WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The St. Mary's Softball Team scored early and often in the doubleheader sweep over Midwestern State on Saturday afternoon, winning 10-6 and 10-1.
 
Senior Abigale Carney (El Paso, Texas) had an amazing day at the plate, smashing four home runs in a five at-bat stretch, hitting one in the fourth and seventh innings of game one and going back-to-back in the first and third innings of game two. She becomes the 13th player in St. Mary's DII history to hit home runs in back-to-back at bats and the second to hit three in a row (Jared Gonzalez hit four straight over two games in 2012). Carney now has 32 home runs for her career, tying her for sixth on the StMU career charts with Lindsay Barnes (2005-2008). 
 
Freshman Cassidy Mageors (Freeport, Texas) also hit the first home run of her career, smashing a grand slam in the sixth inning to push the Rattlers (21-4, 5-1 Lone Star Conference) to the opening game victory.
 
The Rattlers continue the eight-game road swing with a doubleheader at Texas Woman's on Monday beginning at 3 p.m.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
After back-to-back walks to begin the game to Mageors and senior Victoria Aldridge (Elgin, Texas), senior Jayme Johns (Elgin) doubled down the left field line to plate both, setting the tone for the entire day. Two batters later, senior Bari Christian (San Antonio) singled to right field to score Johns for the 3-0 lead.
 
The Mustangs tied the score with one in the first and two in the second, but the Rattlers got back to work in the fourth. Aldridge doubled to left to kick things off and moved to third on a single through the left side by Johns. The pair pulled off the successful double steal to give the lead back to the Rattlers, 4-3. 
 
After MSU tied the score again with one run in the bottom half of the third, Carney hit her first home run to lead off the fourth. The Mustangs took a short lead with two runs in the fifth, but the Rattlers batted around in the sixth, scoring four runs on the Mageors grand slam and Carney added a solo shot with two outs in the seventh for the 10-6 final.
 
Freshman Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio) started in the circle and tallied a no decision. She allowed two earned runs with one walk and three hits in 1.1 innings pitched. Freshman Savannah Youngblood (Kingwood, Texas) worked the final 5.2 frames, allowing three runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts to improve to 8-1 on the season.
 
GAME TWO RECAP
Junior Catalina Cavazos (Houston) kept the Mustang hitters off balance in the nightcap, moving to 10-0 after allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts in four innings. Freshman Madeline Bloom (Poway, Calif.) retired the side in order including a strikeout in her second appearance of the season.
 
The bats stayed hot in game two, as the Rattlers scored 10 runs on 12 hits and four Rattlers had multi-hit games.
 
Aldirdge, Johns and sophomore Ericka Gomez (Stafford, Texas) all hit singles to load the bases in the top of the first. Christian doubled to left to score two, Gomez scored on a groundout by freshman Lauryn Ramos (Marion, Texas) and Carney blasted a two-run homer to left center for the 5-0 lead.
 
With one out in the second, Mageors was hit by a pitch and stole second. She scored on a double to center by Aldridge, who came around to score after Johns and Gomez each singled for the 7-0 advantage.
 
The Rattlers added three in the third, while the Mustangs scored their lone run in the bottom of the frame for the 10-1 final.