Softball Welcomes Western New Mexico for Three

First Pitch

•    St. Mary's remains at home, facing Western New Mexico for a three-game series beginning on Friday at 3:30 p.m. The Mustangs are 3-14 overall and 1-8 in Lone Star Conference play.

•    The Rattlers hold a 10-7 advantage in the all-time series with Western New Mexico and are a perfect 4-0 at home.

•    StMU moved the series with Our Lady of the Lake to Saturday from Tuesday and split with the #15 team in NAIA, winning game one 8-0 before falling 4-2 in game two. The Saints were then able to go upset the #1 team in NAIA on Monday, winning a pair over Oklahoma City.

•    The Rattlers are ranked 25th in the Feb. 28 NFCA poll. StMU received 25 points and it is the third-straight week the team appears in the top-25. There are three other Lone Star teams in the national rankings and two others are receiving votes.

•    StMU hitters are willing to do whatever it takes to score a run, as the Rattlers are currently tied for the nation's lead with 14 sacrifice flies. The Rattlers also rank fifth in the nation in sacrifice bunts with 21.

•    In her first two games of 2023, sophomore Jadyn Abrego went 2-0, allowing only four hits with no runs in 9.2 innings of work to go 2-0.  

•    Once again, the Rattlers are one of the nation's leaders in double plays. The team leads the Lone Star Conference and ranks fourth nationally with nine double plays. The Rattlers have finished in the top 25 in the nation each of the last three years, ranking 22nd with 21 in 2022, leading the nation with 24 in 2021 and finishing second with 13 in the shortened year of 2020.

•    The Rattlers wrapped up the non-conference portion of the schedule with a 10-3 record and wins over two nationally-ranked teams at Division II.

•    Both Lauren Garcia and Reba Reyes lead the Lone Star Conference and are tied for third in the nation in sacrifice flies with three each, while Jamison Holder is 22nd in the nation and fourth in the league with two.

•    Senior Catalina Cavazos has struck out 56 batters this season, the same amount opponent pitchers have struck Rattlers out in half as many innings. She is averaging 6.16 strikeouts per game and has a 5.6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2023.

•    Junior Mackenzie Dugi has reached base safely in the last eight games and in 18 of the 19 this season. She also leads the team with six multi-hit games.