Bloom Shuts Down Cameron Offense to Earn a Split

LAWTON, Okla. — Junior right-hander Madeline Bloom threw a no-hitter in game two of the doubleheader on Tuesday at Cameron, helping the St. Mary's University Softball team to a split against the Aggies. CU won game one 8-4 before the Rattlers bounced back to win game two 3-1.
 
Game one was a story of home runs as the Rattlers (17-12, 12-5 Lone Star Conference) hit three and the Aggies (14-10, 10-9 Lone Star) hit three and combined for 12 runs. Game two was a pitcher's duel as Bloom's didn't allow a single hit. She retired the final nine hitters of the game, walking three throughout the seven innings.
 
The two teams decided the victor of the series on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the McMahon Field and Athletics Center. 
 
GAME ONE RECAP
Senior Reba Reyes (Brownsville, Texas) hit home runs in consecutive at-bats for the second time this season and the second time in four days, leaving the yard in both the fourth and sixth innings. Junior Jamison Holder (Magnolia, Texas) started the sixth with a home run to right-center field, as she and Reyes went back-to-back for the first time this year. The last pair to hit back-to-back were Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio) and Lauryn Ramos (Marion, Texas) at MSU Denver on Feb. 19, 2022. Cameron also used the long ball, hitting three of its own for the 8-4 victory.
 
Abrego was handed the loss, despite retiring the first 11 batters of the game. She pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on three hits with one walk and one strike out. Junior Savannah Youngblood (Kingwood, Texas) pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, giving up four runs on five hits with three walks.
 
Freshman Gabriella Banda (San Antonio) was 3-for-4 in the game, while both Reyes and senior Ericka Gomez (Stafford, Texas) added two hits each. 
 
GAME TWO RECAP
Senior Mackenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig, Texas) wasted no time in putting the Rattler on the scoreboard, launching her second home run of the week in the top of the first inning with one out.
 
In the third inning, Ramos hit a rope to left field to lead things off and senior Lauren Gonzales (San Antonio) laid down a beautiful bunt, beating out the throw for a single. Dugi walked on four pitches and sophomore Raegan Tennill (Corpus Christi, Texas) hit a sacrifice fly to center field for the 2-0 lead. 
 
With one out in the bottom of the third, Cameron's Ashley Bruce reached on an error and she stole second. The next batter walked and ball four was a wild pitch, allowing Bruce to go to third. Holder attempted to throw down to second but the throw back was late and the run scored. 
 
In the sixth inning with one out, both Gomez and Banda walked. Abrego returned a shot up the middle for a single, scoring Gomez for the 3-1 final.

Bloom's no-hitter is the 31st in school history and the first since Catalina Cavazos threw one against Central Oklahoma on Feb. 5, 2023. Bloom is the 14th different pitcher at St. Mary's to throw a no-hitter.
 
Gonzalez had the lone multi-hit game in the nightcap, going 2-for-4.