Hits at a Premium for Softball on Tuesday

TYLER, Texas ­— Hits were at a premium on Tuesday against one of the toughest pitching staffs in the nation as the St. Mary's University Softball team lost both games of a doubleheader to fourth-ranked UT Tyler, 4-1 and 5-0.
 
The two teams wrap up the series on Wednesday at 1 p.m. The Rattlers remain on the road, traveling to Portales after that for a three-game set starting at Eastern New Mexico on Friday.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
The Rattlers took the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Senior Reba Reyes (Brownsville, Texas) walked and was sacrificed to second by Ericka Gomez (Stafford, Texas). With two outs, Reyes advanced to third on a passed ball. Sophomore Raegan Tennill (Corpus Christi, Texas) walked, and Gabriela Banda (San Antonio) singled down the third base line. The Patriots challenged the ball was fair, but the call stood, giving Banda the RBI and the Rattlers the 1-0 lead.
 
The Patriots scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-1 advantage and added one on a solo home run in the sixth for the 4-1 victory.
 
The five hits for the Rattlers were all by different players. Junior Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio) took the loss in the circle. She didn't allow an earned run, though two crossed home plate. She yielded five hits and struck out one. Savannah Youngblood (Kingwood, Texas) worked 1 1/3, giving up one earned run (two total) on four hits.
 
GAME TWO RECAP
A rough first inning for the Rattlers turned into three runs for the Patriots as they won 5-0.
 
Sophomore Breanna Ford (Corpus Christi) lasted only 1/3 of an inning in the circle and fell to 7-6 on the season. She surrendered three runs, though only one was earned, on one hit with two walks and a hit batter. Youngblood came back in, pitching 3 2/3 innings. She allowed two runs on five hits with one walk and senior Sara Robertson (Lorena, Texas) was flawless in her two innings of work, retiring all six batters she faced.
 
The Rattlers again tallied five hits. Senior Mackenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig, Texas) had two of them, while Lauren Gonzales (San Antonio), Jamison Holder (Magnolia, Texas) and Arianna (AJ) Sanchez (San Antonio) had the other three.