CANYON, Texas — The St. Mary's University Softball team hung tough with No. 11 West Texas A&M on Sunday but lost both games of the doubleheader, 4-3 and 11-3.
The Rattlers (7-8, 2-2) posted three extra-base hits in the 11 they had on the day, with doubles by freshman
Miah Corona (Eddy, Texas) and senior
Mene'e Padilla (San Antonio), along with a home run by
Gabriela Banda (San Antonio). Five of the six pitchers available threw at least one inning, and seniors
Savannah Youngblood (Kingwood, Texas) and
Madeline Bloom (Poway, Calif.) started, and each was handed a loss.
The Rattlers rallied in the first game, scoring three in the final three innings, but were unable to tie the game after giving up four in the first two for the 4-3 final.
Banda collected two of the Rattlers' six hits, including her second home run of the year, as she led off the top of the seventh with a blast over the left field fence. She also scored two of the team's three runs as she was plated in the fifth after singling down the right field line and moving to second on an error.
Youngblood started her first game of the year, falling to 0-2 after allowing one run on two hits. Junior
Emily Ayala (San Antonio) had a strong day in the circle, allowing two earned runs on five hits over five innings with only one walk and three strikeouts.
In the second game, the Lady Buffs (14-0, 4-0) again jumped out to an early lead, scoring seven in the first two frames. The Rattlers scored two in the third and one in the fifth but WT answered each time for the 11-3 final.
Freshman
Araceli Arevalo (Houston) was 2-for-3 in the nightcap, hitting out of the two-hole for the first time in her collegiate career. Junior
Raegan Tennill (Corpus Christi, Texas) drove in two of the team's three runs, while junior
Abigail Dela Rosa (La Grange, Texas) scored two of the three.
The Rattlers return home to host Western New Mexico on Friday, Feb. 21 at 3 and 5 p.m. before welcoming Eastern New Mexico on Sunday for games at 12 and 2.
