Bats Stay Lively for Softball at NCAA Regionals

COMMERCE, Texas – After suffering heartbreak in the last two games against Texas A&M Kingsville, the St. Mary's Softball team was able to buckle down and get the win, 4-2, on day two of the NCAA South Central Regional to remain in the winner's bracket.
 
St. Mary's (38-17) gave up two runs in the top of the first inning, but they allowed only four hits the rest of the way, scoring four unanswered to move to the finals of the regionals for the first time since 2017.
 
Three of the four runs were scored on solo home runs as senior Jayme Johns (Elgin, Texas), freshman Cassidy Mageors (Freeport, Texas) and freshman Jamison Holder (Magnolia, Texas) all left the yard. 
 
"This was a huge win," said Head Coach Donna Fields. "If there's a team we've played the most in the Lone Star Conference this year, it's Kingsville, and they've had our number. Very competitive games all season and it's been fighting tooth and nail. I felt we did the same thing today – them coming out with a triple to begin with and us throwing the ball over our first baseman on a ground ball to the pitcher. It didn't start the game right, but it says a lot for the poise of the girls. They played with a lot of pride to be able to settle down and keep them to those two runs and for us to chip away."
 
Junior Catalina Cavazos (Houston) started the game, but freshman Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio) replaced her after four batters and improved to 9-8 on the season with the win. She allowed four hits, walking two and fanning a pair.
 
"They've (TAMUK) got some of the best pitchers in the region," Fields continued. "They've been here the past three years, they know what it takes and we knew it was going to be a battle all the way through. Just being patient with each other and knowing it's a team opportunity to win and we had to rely on each other."
 
Johns put the Rattlers on the scoreboard with her first home run since the 2020 season where she hit two in the pandemic shortened season.
 
Holder tied the game at 2-2 in bottom of fourth with her fifth home run of the year, clearing the fence right in front of the scoreboard.
 
Mageors took the first pitch she saw in the fifth frame over the wall in left center, hitting her second homer of the year.
 
Senior Bari Christian (San Antonio) singled to shallow left field and moved to second when the ball was misplayed. A long fly ball to the deepest part of the park off the bat of freshman Lauryn Ramos (Marion, Texas) advanced Christian to third and a single to right center by senior Amber Gonzales (Austin) doubled the lead. TAMUK centerfielder Jory Cervantes made a great diving effort for the Gonzales shot, but the ball fell to the turf. 
 
In the top of the seventh, Cervantes led off with a single, but Gonzales made a tremendous play at first base, stepping on the bag and throwing to Ericka Gomez (Stafford, Texas) who was able to tag out the speedy Cervantes at second base. Johns handled an infield pop-up to end the game.
 
St. Mary's will play at noon on Saturday against the winner of the Texas A&M Commerce – Texas A&M Kingsville game.