Youngblood Retires Final 17 'Toppers as Softball Wins 5-2

SAN ANTONIO —Savannah Youngblood retired 17 straight batters to give the St. Mary's University Softball team a chance to come back and sweep the series over rival St. Edward's 5-2 on Wednesday evening.
 
Youngblood, a junior from Kingwood, Texas, was almost unhittable as she allowed only one hit in 6 1/3 innings, striking out one and walking no one. She recorded 11 outs by flyout and seven by groundout, needing only 66 pitches.
 
The Hilltoppers (4-18, 2-9 Lone Star Conference) scored two runs in the top of the first on one hit with three walks and a hit batter off sophomore Breanna Ford (Corpus Christi, Texas).
 
The Rattlers (11-10, 6-3 Lone Star) scored three runs in the fourth and added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth to win their fourth straight game and post their first season sweep over a team.
 
With one out in the fourth inning, sophomore Raegan Tennill (Corpus Christi) walked and promptly stole second base. Junior Jamison Holder (Magnolia, Texas) singled up the middle and used heads up base running to scamper to second when the throw went to home plate. She scored on a triple to right center off the bat of senior Reba Reyes (Brownsville, Texas). Reyes broke for home as soon as the ball came off the bat of senior Ericka Gomez (Stafford, Texas), who was safe at first when the second baseman bobbled the ball, giving the Rattlers a 3-2 advantage.
 
After Youngblood forced three straight groundouts, the Rattlers' offense went back to work. Senior Mackenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig, Texas) singled right underneath the diving shortstops glove and reached second when senior Lauren Gonzales (San Antonio) hit a ball to almost the same spot. Both move up on a wild pitch. Senior Destiny Salinas hit a ball sharply up the first base line, and the first baseman thought about tagging her but, at the last minute, chose to throw home. However, it was not in time, putting runners on the corners. The two pulled off the successful double steal for the 5-2 final score.
 
The Rattlers head to Laredo this weekend for a three-game series beginning on Saturday at Noon against Texas A&M International. The Dustdevils have dropped nine straight games and are 5-17 overall with a 2-10 mark in Lone Star Conference play