Softball Fights Back to Win Second Game for Split

SAN ANTONIO – The St. Mary's Softball team rebounded from its first loss of the season to win game two and earn a split over Regis on Friday, losing 5-3 before winning 6-3.
 
Sophomore Madeline Bloom (Poway, Calif.) won her second game of the year, pitched in the final 3.1 innings without allowing a single hit. She walked two and struck out one as the Rattlers fought back to score the final four runs of the game and win 6-3.
 
Four Rattlers (8-1) recorded a hit in each game as Jamison Holder (Magnolia, Texas), Lauren Garcia (San Antonio), Lauren Gonzales (San Antonio) and Mackenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig, Texas) combined for eight of the team's 12 hits over the doubleheader.
 
St. Mary's remains at home, hosting Texas Lutheran for a doubleheader on Wednesday beginning at 5 p.m. The Bulldogs are preseason #3 in the NFCA Division III poll.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
After Regis took the 1-0 lead on a wind-aided home run over the right field fence, Holder singled to lead off the Rattlers half of the inning. Freshman Abigail Dela Rosa (LaGrange, Texas) pinch ran for the catcher and made it all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Lauryn Ramos (Marion, Texas). Garcia won a 12-pitch at-bat, singling up the middle to knot the score.
 
The Rangers took advantage of a Rattler error, pulling off the double steal of second and home for the 2-1 lead. Gonzales singled approximately five feet in front of home and moved to second on a groundout off the bat of Dugi. Junior Reba Reyes (Brownsville, Texas) and freshman Madison Guerrero (Castroville, Texas) both walked and Holder hit a sacrifice fly to left field to again tie things up. StMU remained aggressive on the base paths as Reyes came home on a swinging strike by Ramos that got past the catcher for the 3-2 lead.
 
Regis pushed two runs across on three hits to take the lead back, 4-3 and scored an insurance run in the sixth for the 5-3 score.
 
With one out, Dugi walked and Reyes was hit by a pitch on ball four to put runners at first and second. Holder walked to load the bags, but the Rattlers were unable to capitalize.
 
Senior Catalina Cavazos (Houston) lost for the first time in 2023, moving to 4-1. She allowed four earned runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Sophomore Savannah Youngblood (Kingwood, Texas) pitched the final inning, walking two.
 
GAME TWO RECAP
Freshman Emily Ayala (San Antonio) started in the circle for the second time. She pitched 3.2 innings, surrendering three runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Bloom entered in the fourth inning with runners on the corners and two outs, getting a groundout to end the threat.
 
The Rattlers scored two in the bottom of the first. Dugi singled through the right side, was sacrifice bunted to second by Gomez and scored on a double by Holder. Ramos singled to second base and Holder surprised many in the park, hustling home from second for the second run of the frame.
 
Regis knotted the game in the third with a pair of runs and added one in the fourth for the 3-2 lead.
 
Garcia and sophomore Kaylynne Ruiz (Eagle Pass, Texas) hit back-to-back doubles to open the fourth. Guerrero walked and with one out Dugi hit a sacrifice fly almost to the warning track in right field as the Rattlers regained the lead, 4-3.
 
StMU added two runs in the fifth despite not getting a hit in the frame. Gomez led off with a walk and sophomore Mene'e Padilla (San Antonio) laid down a bunt and was safe at first on a throwing error, allowing Gomez to get to third. After a pitching change, Padilla moved to second on a wild pitch and everyone moved up when Ramos hit a ball to the short stop. The fielder attempted to get the lead runner out at home plate, but Gomez beat the throw. Padilla added the second run, scoring on a sacrifice fly to center by Garcia for the 6-3 final.