Softball Edges Hilltoppers 3-1 for Series Win

AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Mary's Softball team buckled down in the series finale on Wednesday at St. Edward's winning 3-1 to take the ninth consecutive series in the Battle of the Saints.
 
Sophomore Madeline Bloom (Poway, Calif.) kept the hitters off balance much of the day, allowing only one run on three hits to improve to 5-2, while senior Catalina Cavazos (Houston) earned her third save of the year retiring five of the six batters she faced.
 
The Rattlers (19-6, 9-3 Lone Star) pitching staff did not allow the Hilltoppers (13-11, 7-8 Lone Star) a hit with two outs the entire game, holding them 0-for-7.
 
Junior Mackenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig, Texas) recorded two of the team's eight hits, while sophomore Jamison Holder (Magnolia, Texas) knocked in two of the three runs.
 
A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first gave the Hilltoppers an early 1-0 lead. The Rattlers took the lead in the top of the third. Sophomore Lauryn Ramos (Marion, Texas) was hit by a pitch to lead off and moved to second on single up the middle by junior Lauren Garcia (San Antonio). With one out, junior Lauren Gonzales (San Antonio) struck out but a dropped third strike allowed both runners to advance. Holder drove in both with a single down the left field line for the 2-1 score.
 
With one out in the fourth, freshman Raegan Tennill (Corpus Christi, Texas) singled through the right side, stole second and scampered to third on a single between the shortstop and third baseman by Ramos. Ramos stole second and Garcia was plunked to load the bases. Dugi hit into a fielder's choice that erased Ramos off the base path, but Tennill scored for the 3-1 lead.
 
Bloom retired 10 straight batters from the third through the sixth and she turned the ball over to Cavazos after giving up back-to-back hits. Cavazos stranded both runners with a groundout and a strikeout to preserve the lead and retired the side in order after giving up a bunt single to begin the seventh.
 
The Rattlers return home to The Park at StMU to host Texas A&M International on Saturday and Sunday for a three-game series. Game one on Saturday begins at 1 p.m.