Softball Takes Series With 8-3 Win Over TWU

SAN ANTONIO – The St. Mary's Softball team ended the home portion of the regular season on a positive note with an 8-3 victory over Texas Woman's on Friday morning to win the series.
 
The St. Mary's (31-21, 21-18 Lone Star) staff worked tirelessly before the game to get the field ready after a big storm rolled through San Antonio late Thursday night.
 
The Rattlers responded their fifth game in six tries. Senior Catalina Cavazos (Houston) was in the circle for the second-straight game, winning her 19th complete game of the season to improve to 15-7 overall. She allowed three runs on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
 
Juniors Lauren Gonzales (San Antonio) and Reba Reyes (Brownsville, Texas) and sophomore Lauryn Ramos (Marion, Texas) all had two-hit days. Reyes also had a career-best five RBI, passing the four she had at UT Permian Basin on April 6. Junior Destiny Salinas (San Antonio) scored three of the team's eight runs.
 
A big third inning put the Rattlers on the scoreboard first. Ramos was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and with two outs, Salinas was also plunked. Gonzales singled to the area between short and third to load the bases and Reyes blasted a shot down the right field line for a triple. Sophomore Jamison Holder followed with a double over the head of the right fielder for the third hit of the inning and a 4-0 advantage.
 
The Pioneers got one run back in the top of the fourth, but the Rattlers offense went right back to work in the bottom half of the inning.
 
With one out, Ramos hit a slow roller on the left side of the infield for a single. Senior Lauren Garcia (San Antonio) roped a ball to shortstop and it was misplayed, allowing Ramos to be safe at second. Junior Mackenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig, Texas) singled to left to plate Ramos and Salinas followed with a chopper to the right side of the infield. The second baseman elected to try to get Garcia at third, but the throw was late. Gonzales reached on a fielder's choice where a diving shortstop flipped to third in time to retire Dugi. Reyes singled up the middle to score Salinas and give the Rattlers a 7-1 lead.
 
In the sixth, TWU plated two runs on a home run by Alyssa LeBlanc, but Cavazos retired three of the next four to end the threat. StMU got one run back on a sacrifice fly down the right field line by Reyes after Salinas and Gonzales both singled – and both swiped second base – for the 8-3 final tally.
 
St. Mary's closes out the regular season at Oklahoma Christian, beginning a three-game series on Friday, at 3 p.m.