Well-Rounded Game for Softball Leads to Series Win Over Javelinas

SAN ANTONIO — Playing their 18th game in 19 days, the St. Mary's University Softball team took charge early to take the series against Texas A&M Kingsville, winning 10-3 on Wednesday.
 
The Rattlers (8-10, 3-3 Lone Star Conference) scored 10 runs on 12 hits and limited the potent Javelina (10-4, 3-3 Lone Star) offense to three runs on four hits.
 
Both senior Lauren Gonzales (San Antonio) and junior Lauryn Ramos (Marion, Texas) recorded three-hit days, while senior Ericka Gomez (Stafford, Texas) was 2-for-2 with three RBI.
 
Sophomore Breanna Ford (Corpus Christi, Texas) entered the circle in the second inning and shut the Javelinas down, surrendering only two hits with four walks and four strikeouts over the final six innings. Junior Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio) pitched the first inning, allowing three runs on two hits with four walks in a no decision.
 
TAMUK scored two runs in the first inning on one hit and four walks, but the Rattlers went right to work on offense. Gonzales singled up the middle and with two outs, stole second base. She and junior Jamison Holder (Magnolia, Texas) switched places after Holder doubled to the 220 sign in centerfield. Senior Reba Reyes (Brownsville, Texas) walked and Gomez drove in her first run of the day with a single to left. Ramos followed with a double to left to clear the bases but was thrown out at second to end the first inning with the score 4-2.
 
The Javelinas added one run in the second on two hits and three fielder's choices to cut the deficit in half, 4-3.
 
In the third, the Rattlers plated four more runs to break open the game, 8-3. With one out, Salinas took the first pitch she saw back up the middle for a single. She scampered to second on a wild pitch and Holder walked. The pair stole and scored on a Gomez seeing-eye single through the right side. Ramos singled to centerfield, moving Gomez to third and freshman Gabriela Banda (San Antonio) took an 0-2 pitch to right centerfield to plate Gomez. Dugi hit a solid single to left field to plate another run and put the Rattlers up 8-3.
 
StMU added one run in each the fourth and fifth innings for the 10-3 final. Gonzales led off another inning with a single and moved to second on a throwing error as the second baseman overthrew first in a hurry to try to catch the speedy senior. She moved up a base on a groundout by Salinas and scored on a wild pitch. In the fifth, Reyes walked and was sacrificed to second by Gomez. A Ramos single to left put Reyes on third and she scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Banda.
 
The Rattlers get a short break in the action, hosting St. Edward's next Tuesday and Wednesday in the Battle of the Saints Week. It will also be the first times the Rattlers will face former assistant coach Haley Post as she is now the head coach for the Hilltoppers. First pitch for game one is slated for 4 p.m. on Tuesday.