SAN ANTONIO — After a pair of heart-wrenching losses last week, the St. Mary's University softball team returned home to run-rule both games of a doubleheader against UT Permian Basin, winning 12-3 and 11-1.
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The Rattlers move to 21-17 on the year and 16-10 in the Lone Star Conference, while the Falcons fall to 4-31 overall and 1-25 in league play. The clubs conclude the series on Friday at Noon.
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Junior shortstop
Lauryn Ramos had the highlight of the twin bill, hitting a grand slam in the first inning of game one as the Rattlers busted open a 7-0 lead. It was the first homerun of the season for the Marion, Texas native.
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Freshman Gabriella Banda (San Antonio) was very patient at the plate, drawing a walk in all four plate appearances. Fellow freshman
Samiya Johnson (Corpus Christi, Texas) got the first playing time of her career, taking over at first base for Banda in both contests. She also walked and scored a run.
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Senior
Lauren Gonzales (San Antonio) swiped four bags on the afternoon, bringing her StMU total to 67 and moving her into sixth place on the school's career charts. She passed Terrie Cox (2003-2006) who swiped 65 in her standout career and she is now four shy of tying Sade Moore (2006-2009) for fifth on the list with 71.
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Junior
Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio) was in the circle for the first two innings of game one. She allowed two earned runs on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Junior
Savannah Youngblood (Kingwood, Texas) finished the game. She gave up three hits in three innings to get the win and move to 7-2 on the year as Abrego didn't pitch the minimum innings required for the win.
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Junior
Madeline Bloom (Poway, Calif.) threw the entire five innings in game two. She surrendered one run on two hits with four walks and two strikeouts to improve to 4-6 on the season.
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Senior
Ericka Gomez (Stafford, Texas) was 3-for-3 in game one and scored two of the team's runs in game two. Fellow senior
Reba Reyes (Brownsville, Texas) was 4-for-4 over the doubleheader with two RBI and five runs scored.
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The pair of victories extends the Rattlers' winning streak over the Falcons to 26 straight, dating back to 2012. St. Mary's is now 45-3 all-time against UT Permian Basin.
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