Softball Falls in Extra Innings at NCAA Regional

CANYON, Texas – Four of the last five games have been decided by one run for the St. Mary's Softball team and Thursday was no exception as the team fell 3-2 in eight innings to No. 7 Colorado Christian in the NCAA Regional Championship.
 
The Rattlers (31-26) move to the loser's bracket and will face conference foe Cameron at 2:30 p.m. on Friday in a must-win game to extend the season.
 
Senior Catalina Cavazos (Houston) pitched her 22nd complete game of the season, allowing three runs on 11 hits with only one walk and two strikeouts.
 
Sophomore Jamison Holder (Magnolia, Texas) went 2-for-4 and had the lone RBI in the top of the eighth inning. The top four batters in the Rattlers lineup collected five of the team's six hits in the heartbreaking loss. Sophomore Lauryn Ramos (Marion, Texas) was on base twice in her three plate appearances as she was plunked twice.
 
A solo home run in the bottom of the second inning gave the Cougars (56-4) an early 1-0 lead, but the Rattlers responded in the top of the third with one of their own. Sophomore Kaylynne Ruiz (Eagle Pass, Texas) was hit by a pitch to start the frame and freshman Abigail Dela Rosa (LaGrange, Texas) ran for her. Dela Rosa went first to third on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Ramos and scored on a fielder's choice to shortstop by junior Destiny Salinas (San Antonio).
 
In the top of the eighth, junior Lauren Gonzales (San Antonio) singled up the middle and junior Reba Reyes (Brownsville, Texas) laid down a terrific bunt but the Cougars back picked Gonzales and she was out in a rundown. Reyes smartly moved to second during the action. A single to left center by Holder plated Reyes for the 2-1 lead.
 
The Cougars were able to score two in the bottom of the eighth with two outs for the 3-2 victory.
 
In the first game of the day, #9 West Texas A&M defeated Cameron 11-6, pitting two top-10 teams against each other in the winners bracket on Friday.