Softball Wins Both In Regular Season Finale

AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Mary's Softball Team ended the 2022 regular season on a high note, sweeping rival St. Edward's, 4-3 and 3-1 on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Rattlers finish Lone Star Conference play with a 19-11 mark in Lone Star play and are 35-16 heading into the conference tournament, which begins on May 5 and will be a single elimination championship in Tyler, Texas. St. Mary's will be the seven seed and will play the first game at 11 a.m.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
Despite leaving 13 runners on base, the Rattlers were able to hang on for the 4-3 win in the opener. 
 
The top three in the order recorded seven of the team's nine hits, led by senior Jayme Johns (Elgin, Texas) 3-for-3 game and she had both of the team's two RBIs. Both senior Bari Christian (San Antonio) and sophomore Ericka Gomez (Stafford, Texas) drew two walks in the middle of the lineup as the team drew eight walks.
 
Freshman Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio) evened her season record at 8-8, allowing three runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout. Sophomore Sara Robertson (Lorena, Texas) posted her first save of the year, not allowing a base runner in two innings of work.
 
The Rattlers got to work early, scoring two runs on one hit in the top of the first and taking advantage of three walks and an error by the first baseman.
 
Senior Tiffany Licon (Austin) kicked off the second with a single up the middle and freshman Cassidy Mageors (Freeport, Texas) followed with a solid single down the right field line. Johns knocked a single to left center to score a pair and double the team's lead to 4-0.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, the Hilltoppers cut the lead to one with three runs on three hits for the 4-3 tally.
 
GAME TWO RECAP
The Rattlers improved to 6-1 in extra-inning games with the 3-1 victory in the eighth inning. Senior Victoria Aldridge (Elgin) scored the winning run, getting two of the team's six hits in the nightcap.
 
Junior Catalina Cavazos (Houston) moved to 18-3 on the year. She gave up an unearned run on five hits, walking only one and fanning three
 
Senior Abigale Carney (El Paso, Texas) walked and sophomore Reba Reyes (Brownsville, Texas) came into run for her in the fifth inning. She stole second, was sacrificed to second on a terrific bunt by senior Amber Gonzales (Austin) and scored on a single to centerfield off the bat of Licon. 
 
With one out in the eighth, Aldridge doubled over the right fielder's head and Johns followed with a single to left, allowing Aldridge to score from second. Freshman Mene'e Padilla (San Antonio) drew a four pitch walk in a pinch-hitting appearance and senior Katerina McLennan (Austin) pinch ran. A four pitch walk to Christian loaded the bases and the Hilltoppers went to the bullpen. With two outs, Carney worked a walk to score Johns for the 3-1 final tally.