Softball Battles Back for Saturday Split with Dustdevils

SAN ANTONIO – After a comeback in game one fell short, 7-5, the St. Mary's Softball team rebounded for a 3-1 victory in game two for a split against Texas A&M International on Saturday.
 
The Rattlers are now 20-7 on the year and 10-4 in Lone Star Conference play, while the Dustdevils move to 11-17 overall and 7-10 in league action. The two teams conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
For the second time this season, junior Lauren Gonzales (San Antonio) tied the school record for stolen bases in a game with three, doing so for the 14th time in school history in the first game. Gonzales is now 19-19 on the year in swipes.
 
Freshman Raegan Tennill (Corpus Christi, Texas) recorded four of the team's seven RBI on the day, driving in three in game one and the security run in game two.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
TAMIU scored four in the first and three in the third for the 7-0 advantage. The Rattlers attempted another comeback, but fell short, 7-5.
 
Freshman Emily Ayala (San Antonio) entered in the circle in the second inning for the Gold & Blue and was able to limit the damage. Over six innings, she allowed three unearned runs on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts in a no decision.
 
The Rattlers broke onto the scoreboard in the sixth with three runs. Sophomore Kaylynne Ruiz (Eagle Pass, Texas) started things with a single to left. Junior Reba Reyes (Brownsville, Texas) hit a ball back to the pitcher that was misplayed. Junior Ericka Gomez (Stafford, Texas) hit into a fielder's choice that erased Reyes off the paths but put runners on the corners. Freshman Raegan Tennill (Corpus Christi, Texas) doubled through the gap in the left side to score two. With two outs, senior Lauren Garcia (San Antonio) singled to right to score Tennill and the 7-2 tally.
 
After a lengthy delay going into the bottom of the seventh with clarification on substitutions, Gonzales laid down a fantastic bunt. She stole second and Holder walked. Gonzales stole third and Holder added one on a delay after the Dustdevils threw to third. Ruiz singled to left center to plate Gonzales. A four pitch walk by Gomez loaded the bases. With one out, Tennill hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Holder.
 
GAME TWO RECAP
Seniro Catalina Cavazos added another complete game to her resume, improving to 9-2 with one earned run on nine hits with no walks and one strikeout.
 
Dugi walked on four pitches and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Gonzales in the first inning. Holder, Ruiz and Reyes all walked for the early 1-0 lead in the first.
 
The Dustdevils knotted the score in the top of the fourth, but the Rattlers immediately answered. Gomez doubled down the left field line, moved to third on a groundout by sophomore Lauryn Ramos (Marion, Texas) and scored on a single that landed inside the right field line off the bat of Garcia.
 
Reyes walked to lead off the sixth, stole second base, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Gomez and scored the third run for the Rattlers on a sacrifice fly to deep left field by Tennill for the 3-1 final tally.