Cold Weather Doesn't Slow Softball in Sweep Over Mustangs

SAN ANTONIO — The weather in south Texas may have been frigid, but the St. Mary's University Softball team remained hot on the diamond, sweeping a doubleheader from Western New Mexico, 5-0 and 6-1 on Saturday.
 
The Rattlers (9-8, 4-2) hit .327 as a team, collecting 17 hits on the day, while the StMU pitching staff held the Mustangs (4-11, 1-5) to one run on eight hits with 14 strikeouts and no walks.
 
St. Mary's remains at home, hosting Eastern New Mexico in a doubleheader scheduled for Sunday at 12 p.m.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
Junior Emily Ayala (San Antonio) pitched the first complete game of her career, allowing only four hits and striking out a career-best seven in a 5-0 shutout.
 
The middle of the lineup did the most damage for the Rattlers as sophomore Gabriela Banda (San Antonio), freshman Miah Corona (Eddy, Texas) and sophomore Madison Magaro (San Antonio) each had two hits and Corona recorded two of the team's three RBIs.
 
The Rattlers plated one in the second, two in the third and two in the fourth for five runs in the game.
 
With one out in the second, Banda doubled to the gap in right-centerfield. Corona singled to left-center to put runners on the corners and a fielder's choice bunt off the bat of freshman Milliana Torrez (El Paso, Texas) loaded the bases. Magaro singled up the middle for the first run of the game.
 
With two outs, Ayala singled to center and advanced to third on a double off the fence in left-center off the bat of Banda. Corona singled to right to score both and push the lead to 3-0.
 
After Ayala retired the side in order in the top of the fourth, her battery mate, Magaro doubled to right field. Junior Abigail Dela Rosa (La Grange, Texas) walked and senior Lauren Gonzales (San Antonio) laid a superb bunt down the third base line to load the bases. With two outs, Ayala hit a sharp ground ball that was misplayed by the shortstop, allowing two unearned to score for the 5-0 final.
 
GAME TWO
Senior Madeline Bloom (Poway, Calif.) gave up one run on four hits in six innings, tying her career-high with seven strikeouts.
 
Banda recorded the only multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and senior Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio) and freshman Izabella Valdez (San Antonio) each drove in two runs in the 6-1 victory.
 
With two outs, junior Raegan Tennill (Corpus Christi, Texas) worked a walk and came around to score when Abrego drilled a home run into the Rattlers' bullpen for the 2-0 lead in the first inning. The Mustangs scored their lone run of the day in the top of the second on a solo home run by Addisen Byers.
 
In the fourth, Banda doubled down the left field line to get things going. Corona singled up the middle and Torrez drove Banda in with a fielder's choice to second base.
 
The Rattlers doubled their score with three runs in the sixth inning. Banda again started the inning, doubling to center. An error by the shortstop put Corona on first and Banda on third. Freshman Jaylan Roberson (Elgin, Texas) pinch-hit and collected the first RBI of her young career with a single past the shortstop. Ayala drew a four-pitch walk pinch-hitting. With two outs, Valdez also came into pinch-hit and singled through the left side of the infield to score a pair and give StMU the 6-1 win.