Softball Fights Back in Game Two To Earn Sweep over MSU Denver

SAN ANTONIO – The St. Mary's Softball team remained unblemished in 2023, winning both games against MSU Denver in dramatically different fashions on Thursday evening.
 
The Rattlers (7-0) shut out the Roadrunners (3-6) in the first game behind a two-hitter by senior Catalina Cavazos (Houston), the defending National Pitcher of the Week, and they fought back to score eight unanswered runs in an 8-5 victory in the nightcap.
 
Sophomore Madeline Bloom (Poway, Calif.) entered midway through the first inning and shut down a streaking Roadrunner offense, allowing only three hits with two strikeouts and one walk in the first win of her career.
 
Offensively, sophomore Jamison Holder (Magnolia, Texas) was 4-for-6 in the series with six RBI, two home runs and a double. Sophomore Lauryn Ramos (Marion, Texas) bounced back from an 0-for-3 game in the opener to go 3-for-3 in the second game, including the game-winning triple down the right field line in the sixth inning and she was the home run shy of hitting for the cycle.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
All three facets of the game dominated in game one, as the Rattlers scored nine runs on 10 hits with three home runs and Cavazos posted her second-straight shutout, allowing only two hits.
 
In addition to the three-for-three performance by Holder, junior Mackenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig, Texas) was 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored and junior Lauren Gonzales (San Antonio) was 2-for-2.
 
After both pitchers retired the side in order in the first inning, the Rattler bats got to work in the bottom of the second. Holder doubled to the OK Tours sign in left center and with one out, senior Lauren Garcia (San Antonio) cleared the wall in almost the same spot for the 2-0 advantage and the first home run of her career. Sophomore Kaylynne Ruiz (Eagle Pass, Texas) hit a sharp ball to left field and freshman Abigail Del Rosa (LaGrange, Texas) ran for her. Junior Ericka Gomez (Stafford, Texas) singled past the third baseman who was creeping in on the infield. Gonzales cued a ball off the end of the bat and with her speed, loaded the bases. Dugi singled to right to bring in Dela Rosa for the 3-0 lead.
 
Holder kept the long shots going, clearing the left field fence to lead off the third and extend the lead to 4-0. With one out in the fourth, Gonzales beat out an infield single to second, stole second and scored on a double down the right field line that bounced off the bag at first by Dugi. MSU Denver went to the bullpen and Reyes remained patient at the plate, working a six-pitch walk. Freshman Raegan Tennill (Corpus Christi, Texas) also walked to load the bases and Holder hit a grand slam to bust open the game, 9-0.
 
GAME TWO RECAP
MSU Denver scored five runs on six hits in the top of the first inning and the score remained 5-0 until the bottom of the fourth when the offense got going for the Rattlers.
Tennill singled to third to begin the frame. With one out, Ramos singled to right and a fielding error by the right fielder on a ball off the bat of Garcia plated Tennill. Ruiz walked to load the bases and Dela Rosa was inserted as a pinch runner. Gomez hit into a fielder's choice that erased Dela Rosa off the base paths but plated Ramos to make the score 5-2.
 
After Bloom retired the side in order in the top of the fifth, junior Reba Reyes (Brownsville, Texas) doubled to left center, advanced to third on a flyout to right by Tennill and scored on a Holder single to left center for the 5-3 tally.
 
Bloom needed only six pitches in the sixth frame to get her offensive back to work. With one out, Gomez beat out an infield single to short and Gonzales laid down a fantastic bunt which stopped a few feet in front of home plate to put runners on first and second. Dugi singled up the middle and the Roadrunners went to the bullpen. Reyes walked to drive in a run and Dugi was out at third on a fielder's choice off the bat of Tennill that plated Gonzales and knotted the score. Holder walked and MSUD put the starting pitcher back into the circle. Ramos made them pay with a triple down the right field line that cleared the bases and gave the Rattlers the 8-5 win.
 
The Rattlers return to the diamond on Friday with a doubleheader against Regis. First pitch of the first game is slated for 2 p.m.