Softball Drops a Pair of Close Contests on Day Two of First Pitch Invitational

CONROE, Texas — The St. Mary's University Softball team dropped a pair of close decisions at the D2 First Pitch Invitational on Saturday afternoon, 10-9 to Saint Martin's and 3-2 to Pittsburg State.
 
The Rattlers move to 1-3 on the young season and will wrap up the tournament on Sunday at 10 a.m. against Colorado Mesa.
 
Saint Martin's 10, St. Mary's 9
Five of the nine Rattlers in the starting lineup recorded multi-hit games as they scored their nine runs on 13 hits.
 
The Saints struck first, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first off two hits and three walks. The Rattlers answered with a pair in the second. With one out, senior Lauryn Ramos (Marion, Texas) drew a walk and advanced to third on a double to left center off the bat of sophomore Samiya Johnson (Corpus Christi, Texas). Sophomore Madison Magaro (San Antonio) singled to right to plate Ramos and freshman Araceli Arevalo (Houston) hit a sacrifice fly to left field for the 3-2 tally.
 
In the top of the fourth, the Rattlers scored five to take a 7-3 advantage. With one out, Johnson drove a ball back up the middle and Magaro singled to first. Senior Lauren Gonzales hit a come-backer to the pitcher and beat the throw, loading the bases. Junior Abigail Dela Rosa (La Grange, Texas) drew a four-pitch walk and sophomore Gabriela Banda (San Antonio) blasted a bases-clearing double to the wall in left field.
 
Saint Martin's answered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to regain the lead, 8-7. The Rattlers tied the game in the sixth, 8-8. Junior Raegan Tennill hit into a fielder's choice that erased Dela Rosa off the base paths, and she quickly stole second. Tennill moved to third on a groundout and scored on a pinch-hit single past a diving third baseman by freshman Milliana Torrez (El Paso, Texas).
 
The Saints regained the lead with two runs in their half of the sixth. StMU tried to mount the comeback in the seventh but was able to score only one run for the 10-9 final. With two outs, Arevalo singled to the left of the pitcher. Gonzales and Dela Rosa hit back-to-back singles to left field to score Arevalo. Tennill laced a ball to the gap in right-center, but the Saints right fielder made a diving catch to preserve the win.
 
Senior Savannah Youngblood (Kingwood, Texas) was tagged with the loss. She allowed two runs on four hits over the final two innings. Freshman Madison Mikes (Hallettsville, Texas) started the game, but walked three in the first. Ariella Saenz (Pharr, Texas) worked four innings, giving up four earned runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
 
Pittsburg State 3, St. Mary's 2
The Rattlers struck first, scoring a pair in the bottom the first inning. Gonzales singled between the shortstop and third to get things going. Dela Rosa walked on four straight pitches and Tennill moved them both up 60 feet with a ground out. Gonzales scored on a sacrifice fly to right center off the bat of Banda.
 
The Gorillas tied the game in the top of the fifth on two runs and plated the winning run in the seventh.
 
Senior Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio) had a solid outing in the circle, pitching five innings, allowing only two runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts in a no decision. Saenz pitched the final two frames, giving up one run on four hits with three strikeouts to move to 0-1 on the year.