Softball Earns Wild Split With 15th-Ranked Javelinas

SAN ANTONIO – St. Mary's and Texas A&M Kingsville kept fans on the edges of their seats all afternoon at the Park at StMU as the two teams split the doubleheader.
 
The Javelinas (19-2, 3-1 Lone Star Conference) won game one, 4-2, while the Rattlers (19-4, 3-1 Lone Star) pulled off a thriller, 3-2 in eight innings in the nightcap.
 
The two teams combined for 11 runs on 27 hits, four double plays and 12 walks during the twinbill.
 
Senior Tiffany Licon (Austin, Texas) was a human highlight reel throughout the day, recording 10 putouts and five assists, including some diving stops and great throws across the diamond to first base. Junior Jayme Johns (Elgin, Texas) led the team with a 3-for-7 day at the plate, while senior Amber Gonzales (Austin) was 2-for-5 with a home run and a pair of walks and both Licon and senior Victoria Aldridge (Elgin) were 2-for-6. 
 
St. Mary's heads out on the road for two weeks, starting at Midwestern State on March 11. The next home game will be March 25 when they host Eastern New Mexico at 4 p.m.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
Trailing 3-0, Gonzales cleared the left field fence to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Senior Abigale Carney (El Paso, Texas) walked and freshman Jamison Holder (Magnolia, Texas) put down a great bunt to sacrifice her to second. Licon singled to center and the centerfielder bobbled the ball, allowing Carney to score from second base to bring the Rattlers within one, 3-2.
 
With runners on first and second in the top of the fifth and one out, Licon took a sharply hit ball, stepped on third and Gonzales made a leaping catch in time to turn the double play and get freshman Savannah Youngblood (Kingwood, Texas) out of a small jam.
 
The Javelinas got one run back with a solo home run in the top of the sixth for the 4-2 final.
 
Freshman Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio) was tagged with the loss. She gave up three runs on five hits and walked two in three innings. Youngblood worked the final four innings, allowing one run on three hits, walked two and struck out one in four innings.
 
GAME TWO RECAP
Junior Catalina Cavazos (Houston) stretched her scoreless streak to 20-straight innings before the Javelinas scored a pair in the seventh to knot the game at 2-2. The Rattlers scored one on the eighth on a bases loaded walk with two outs to pull off the split.
 
In the third, freshman Mine'e Padilla (San Antonio) singled down the right field line and junior Katerina McLennan (Austin) ran for her. Licon hit a ball over the centerfielder's head for a double to score McLennan. Freshman Cassidy Mageors (Freeport, Texas) moved Licon to third with a sacrifice bunt and she scored on a sacrifice fly by Aldridge for the 2-0 lead.
 
The Javelinas tied the score at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. With one out, they hit back-to-back singles and a double to right center knotted up the game.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Johns walked with one out and was safe at second on a fielder's choice when the first baseman threw wide of second. Christian moved both runners over with a groundout and Gonzales walked to load the bases. Carney used an 11-pitch at bat, fouling off six straight pitches before one was high and outside to draw the base on balls and score Johns to win.