Softball Stumbles In Sunday Matchup with Eagles

OKLAHOMA CITY – The 23rd-ranked St. Mary's Softball team ran into the hot bats of Oklahoma Christian on Sunday, dropping both games of the doubleheader, 4-2 and 11-3.
 
The 15 runs scored by the Eagles (19-8, 8-4 Lone Star Conference) came on 19 hits, while the Rattlers (24-7, 8-4 Lone Star) scored five runs on 14 hits as they stranded 11 runners on base and the two teams are now tied for fifth in the league standings along with Angelo State.
 
St. Mary's comes home after playing eight straight on the road, hosting Eastern New Mexico on Friday, March 25 and West Texas A&M on Sunday, March 27.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
The five hits for the Rattlers were scattered throughout the lineup with five different players each recording one. The team also drew three walks and both freshman Cassidy Mageors (Freeport, Texas) and senior Jayme Johns (Elgin, Texas) had a stolen base.
 
Freshman Savannah Youngblood (Kingwood, Texas) shut down the Eagles after they scored four runs in the first inning off Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio). Youngblood allowed only five hits and struck out one in the final five frames.
 
The Eagles used a triple, double and single to score their four runs in the first. The score held until the top of the sixth. Mageors led off with a walk, stole second and with one out, Johns singled to center to put the Rattlers on the scoreboard. With two outs, Johns swiped second and scampered home on a ball hit by senior Bari Christian (San Antonio) that was misplayed by both the second baseman and right fielder for the 4-2 score.
 
GAME TWO RECAP
Eight of the nine Rattlers in the batting order reached base at least once and Christian had the squad's only multi-hit game of the day, going 2-for-3 with a run scored. She and Mageors also each swiped a bag.
 
Junior Catalina Cavazos (Houston, Texas) suffered her first loss of the season, allowing seven runs on seven hits with three walks and a strikeout. She is now 12-1 on the year. Youngblood allowed three runs on three hits in her one inning of work and freshman Madeline Bloom (Poway, Calif.) surrendered a home run in her 1/3 of an inning.
 
With one out in the first, senior Victoria Aldridge doubled to left and scored on a single to centerfield by Johns. The Eagles plated five in their half of the inning.
 
In the top of the fourth, the Rattlers cut the deficit to two with a pair of runs. Christian legged out an infield single to the pitcher's circle with one out. Senior Abigale Carney (El Paso, Texas) doubled to left and sophomore Ericka Gomez (Stafford, Texas) brought them both home with a single to right.
 
Oklahoma Christian pushed the lead back to four with a pair of runs in the fifth and scored four in the sixth for the run-rule.