SAN ANTONIO — St. Mary's University sophomore
Gabriela Banda extended her hitting streak to 10 straight with a 3-for-6 day at the plate, and junior
Arianna (AJ) Sanchez drove in three of the team's eight runs as the Softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to Eastern New Mexico, 8-6 and 8-2 on Sunday afternoon.
The Rattlers (9-10, 4-4) head back out on the road, playing at UT Permian Basin on Friday at 1 p.m. and Sul Ross State on Sunday at Noon.
GAME ONE
Junior
Emily Ayala (San Antonio) scattered five hits in three innings in the circle, striking out one in a no decision. Junior
Ariella Saenz (Pharr, Texas) had a rough outing, taking the loss (1-4) after giving up four walks and one hit in 1/3 of an inning. Senior
Jadyn Abrego (San Antonio) pitched the final 3 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run on five hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts.
Both Banda (San Antonio) and junior
Abigail Dela Rosa (La Grange, Texas) recorded multi-hit games, going 2-for-4, while Banda scored twice.
The Rattlers scored one run in the first inning. With two outs junior
Raegan Tennill (Corpus Christi, Texas) walked, Ayala was hit by a pitch and Banda singled to center for the early 1-0 lead.
ENMU scored six in the fourth inning on three hits and four straight walks, but the Rattlers immediately answered with three in the bottom of the inning. Abrego helped her own cause with a single to centerfield. Banda doubled down the left field line and freshman
Miah Corona (Eddy, Texas) was hit in the helmet by a pitch but was okay to remain in the game. With two outs, freshman
Izabella Valdez (San Antonio) walked to plate a run, Dela Rosa singled to center and Sanchez walked in a pinch-hitting role to close within two, 6-4.
The Greyhounds added two unearned runs in the top of the fifth to push the lead to four, 8-4. The Rattlers scored one in the sixth and one in the seventh but were unable to complete the comeback, dropping an 8-6 contest.
GAME TWO
All 10 runs were scored by the two teams in a one inning stretch as the Rattlers scored two in the bottom of the second and the Greyhounds (12-4, 5-1) plated eight in the top of the third inning for the 8-2 final.
Ayala collected two of the Rattlers' six hits, and Sanchez drove in both runs for the Gold and Blue.
Senior
Savannah Youngblood (Kingwood, Texas) allowed five earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts to move to 0-3 on the year. Senior
Madeline Bloom (Poway, Calif.) surrendered one earned run on three hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts over the final five innings.
Corona singled to right field to begin the Rattlers' half of the second inning. She moved to third on a double to right center by freshman
Milliana Torrez (El Paso, Texas), and both scored when Sanchez rocketed a shot back up the middle.
