Softball Ties Record for Longest Game and Game Two Paused for Darkness

LAREDO, Texas — The St. Mary's University Softball team battled with Texas A&M International University through 25 innings on Saturday and only has one result to show for it. The Rattlers won game one, 4-3 in 15 innings and the teams are tied 1-1 in the 11th inning, which was halted due to darkness.
 
The 15-inning game ties for the longest in St. Mary's history, knotting the 1985 team, which won 1-0 against Texas-Arlington on March 30. Pitching coach Leticia Morales-Bissaro pitched all 15 innings in that win. The 11 innings also ties for the 10th-longest game and will resume at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday. The third game in the series will happen after the conclusion of game two.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
The Rattlers scored their four runs on 13 hits, while the Dustdevils tallied three runs on 14 hits. StMU had one error, while TAMIU had two. 
 
Junior Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio) tallied her second-straight strong performance in the circle, throwing 12 1/3 innings where she allowed three runs on 13 hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Sophomore Breanna Ford (Corpus Christi, Texas) worked the next two innings, giving up one hit with two walks and a strikeout to improve to 5-3 on the season. Junior Savannah Youngblood (Kingwood, Texas) picked up her second save after retiring both batters she faced in the 15th frame.
 
StMU broke onto the scoreboard first, plating two runs in the top of the third. Junior Lauryn Ramos (Marion, Texas) singled through the left side of the infield and moved to third when Abrego doubled to left. Senior Mackenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig, Texas) grounded out to second base, but advanced both runners for the first score. With two outs, senior Destiny Salinas (San Antonio) reached on an error, allowing Abrego to hustle home for the 2-0 advantage.
 
The Dustdevils immediately answered with two runs on one hit with an StMU error in the bottom of the frame.
 
Each team had base runners throughout the next nine innings but combined to strand 14 runners on base and the only three-up, three-down for both sides was the seventh inning. In the bottom of the 12th, the Dustdevils thought they had a great opportunity to get the lead, however Dugi made a fantastic diving catch to save extra bases and make the out.
 
With one out in the 13th, Salinas beat out an infield single to second base. Sophomore Raegan Tennill (Corpus Christi) singled to first and junior Jamison Holder (Magnolia, Texas) followed with a single to left to load the bases. Senior Reba Reyes (Brownsville, Texas) hit a ball to left field and Salinas beat out the throw to home for the sacrifice fly and the 3-2 lead.
 
A double and a single with one out knotted the game again, and Ford entered the circle. Holder immediately picked off the runner on first with a back throw down the line and Salinas chased her down on her way to second to preserve the tie.
 
In the 15th, Gonzales beat out an infield single to shortstop. She stole second and third and the catcher overthrow third base, allowing her to scamper home with the winning score.
 
All nine StMU hitters recorded at least one hit in the contest with Gonzales, Holder and Reyes each posting two.
 
GAME TWO RECAP
The second game was halted due to darkness headed into the top of the 11th inning with the score tied at 1-1.
 
The Rattlers have one run on six hits, while the Dustdevils have one run on eight hits and neither team has committed an error. 
 
Salinas and freshman Gabriella Banda (San Antonio) each have two hits.
 
St. Mary's scored a run in the fourth inning on a Reyes home run, while the Dustdevils equalized the score in the bottom of the seventh after three singles with a walk sandwiched in between.