ODESSA, Texas – It was a tale of two games at UT Permian Basin on Friday for the St. Mary's Softball team as the first game of the doubleheader was an offensive explosion, 10-1, and game two was a true pitcher's duel as there were only four hits between the two teams in the first seven innings. The Rattlers plated four in the eighth for the sweep with the 4-0 win.
St. Mary's is now 30-7 on the season, 14-4 in Lone Star Conference play and winners of its last six games. The Rattlers have now reached 30 wins in every non-Covid affected season of Head Coach
Donna Fields' stellar career. The game one victory was also the 1,400th in program history for the Gold & Blue.
St. Mary's hit .339 over the doubleheader and held the Falcons (16-23, 3-15 Lone Star) to just .106 with one run and five hits over the two games. Seniors
Abigale Carney (El Paso, Texas),
Jayme Johns (Elgin, Texas) and
Tiffany Licon (Austin, Texas) all went 4-for-7 and had at least one extra base hit for the Rattlers.
The Rattlers take their six-game winning streak to Silver City, N.M. for a doubleheader at Western New Mexico on Sunday. First pitch of game one is set for Noon Central/11 a.m. Mountain.
GAME ONE RECAP
Freshman
Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio) retired the first 10 batters she faced before hitting a batter with one out in the fourth and she responded by getting the next two hitters out. She and teammate
Savannah Youngblood (Kingwood, Texas) limited the Falcons to one run on three hits in the game.
Abrego won her third straight to move to 6-4 on the season, allowing one run on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts, while Youngblood surrendered one hit and fanned one in two innings of work to pick up her fourth save of the year.
The Rattlers had at least one base runner in all six innings, scoring 10 runs on 13 hits.
Despite the wind whipping straight in, Carney put the Rattlers on the board in the top of the fourth with a home run to centerfield. Senior
Amber Gonzales (Austin, Texas) singled to centerfield and senior
Rebekah Hubacek (Bryan, Texas) was put in to run for her. Freshman
Lauryn Ramos (Marion, Texas) sacrificed her to second and Hubacek scored on a single to left by Licon for the 2-0 lead.
Freshman
Jamison Holder (Magnolia, Texas) singled past the short stop to start things in the fifth and senior
Katerina McLennan (Austin) pinch ran for her. A double to right center by Carney gave the Rattlers their third run. The Falcons answered with one of their own in the bottom of the frame for the 3-1 tally.
The Rattlers exploded for seven runs in the top of the sixth. Licon singled up the middle and she was sacrificed to second by freshman
Cassidy Mageors (Freeport, Texas). Johns singled back up the middle to plate both and the Falcons went to their bullpen for the second time. Holder walked and senior
Bari Christian (San Antonio) singled past the outstretched glove of the short stop to load the bases. Carney kept things going with a grand slam, no doubt home run to centerfield. With two outs, Ramos drew a walk and scored on a Licon double to center for the 10-1 final score.
GAME TWO RECAP
It took until the eighth inning, but the Rattlers finally broke through on the scoreboard and did so in a big way, scoring four runs on four hits to remain perfect in extra inning games this season (4-0).
Licon doubled to left center to score both Carney and McLennan in the eighth for the winning runs. Carney singled and moved to third on a bunt single and throwing error off the bat of Gonzales. McLennan ran for Gonzales, promptly stole second base and scampered home on the shot by Licon after Ramos walked. Ramos scored on a long fly ball by
Kaylynne Ruiz (Eagle Pass Texas). Aldridge walked and came around to score on a double by Johns for the fourth run.
Junior
Catalina Cavazos (Houston) retired the side in order in the bottom of the eighth for her 15th win of the year in her 10th complete game and fourth shutout of the season. She walked one and struck out seven over the eight frames and is now 15-1 on the year. The Falcons totaled just two hits against her.
