Softball Wins Series With 6-4 Victory on Saturday

SAN ANTONIO — Two three-run innings lifted the St. Mary's University Softball team to a 6-4 victory and the series win over Lubbock Christian on Saturday.
 
Junior pitcher Savannah Youngblood (Kingwood, Texas) once again came into the circle in relief and shut a team down, allowing only one run on five hits with no walks and a pair of strikeouts over the final 4 2/3 innings to move to 6-1 on the year. She entered for junior Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio), who pitched the first 2 1/3 and gave up two earned runs on four hits with three walks in a no decision.
 
Seniors Mackenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig, Texas) and Reba Reyes (Brownsville, Texas) kept the hot bats, each going 2-for-3. Dugi scored two runs and Reyes drove in two as the Rattlers (16-11, 11-4 Lone Star Conference) scored their six runs on seven hits and were aided by four Lady Chaps (11-11, 10-8 Lone Star) errors.
 
With one out in the first inning, Dugi singled to the gap in right center and hustled to second on a wild pitch. Sophomore Raegan Tennill (Corpus Christi, Texas) singled to the gap in left center to put runners on the corners and junior Jamison Holder (Magnolia, Texas) was plunked by a pitch. Reyes hit just inside the chalk line in right field for a two-RBI double. Holder scored on a heads-up base-running play when senior Ericka Gomez (Stafford, Texas) grounded out to the pitcher.
 
The Lady Chaps tied the game in the top of the third on two hits and an error.
 
The Rattlers went back to work in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, junior Lauryn Ramos (Marion, Texas) drew a walk. Junior Lauren Gonzales (San Antonio) laid down a fantastic bunt that landed inches in front of home plate. The catcher hustled the throw down to first and the ball went into right field, allowing Ramos and Gonzales to score on the four-base error. Dugi beat out an infield hit to the left side and moved to second when Tennill reached on a fielding error by the pitcher. With two outs, Reyes walked and Gomez followed with a single to short for the third run of the frame and the 6-3 lead.
 
Lubbock Christian got one run back in the top of the seventh, but Youngblood struck out the final batter to end the threat and give the Rattlers the series win.
 
St. Mary's has a busy week ahead as they travel to Lawton, Okla., for a three-game series at Cameron on Tuesday and Wednesday and they return home to host Angelo State on Saturday and Sunday.