BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The St. Mary's Softball team concluded the Alvy Early Memorial Classic with a split on Sunday, defeating Emporia State 4-3 before dropping the finale 6-2 to Truman State.
The Rattlers finished the tournament with a 4-2 record over the three days and are now 8-3 on the young season. St. Mary's opens the home portion of its schedule on Sunday, Feb. 15, in the first edition of the Battle of the Saints at 1 p.m. The games against St. Edward's are also Alumni Day.
EMPORIA STATE RECAP
Senior right-hander
Ariella Saenz (Pharr, Texas) improved to 3-1 on the year with a complete game victory over the Hornets (6-4). She conceded two earned runs on two hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts. She needed only 80 pitches to get through the seven innings, forcing 16 of the 18 outs to be recorded by groundout.
Both junior
Gabriela Banda (San Antonio) and
Miah Corona (Eddy, Texas) were 2-for-4 at the plate, while senior
Raegan Tennill (Corpus Christi, Texas) scored two of the team's four runs as the top of the order did the majority of the damage, though
Peyton Travis (Pearland, Texas) and
Jaylan Roberson (Elgin, Texas) each drew a walk.
The third inning saw the Rattlers take control with three runs.
Bryley Westfahl (San Antonio) singled, stole second, and advanced to third before scoring on a bunt by Tennill. Tennill then stole second and was brought home on a double from Banda. Banda scored on an error by the shortstop on a groundball off the bat of Travis for the 3-0 advantage.
Emporia St. responded in the fourth inning, with two runs to cut the lead to one, 3-2. StMU extended its lead in the fifth inning when Tennill scored an unearned run on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded, pushing the score to 4-2.
ESU added another run in the sixth; however, the Rattlers' defense held firm in the final inning, preventing any further runs and securing the win.
TRUMAN STATE RECAP
Truman State (1-4) scored in each of the first five innings to take the tournament finale, 6-2. The Rattlers used three pitchers to try to stymy the Bulldogs' offense, and senior
Breanna Ford (Corpus Christi, Texas) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on four hits with two walks.
Five different Rattlers each recorded a hit in the game, and Banda and freshman
Hannah Melendez (San Antonio), who pinch ran for Banda, scored the two runs in the second and fourth innings, respectively.
In the second inning, Banda walked to start the action for St. Mary's, followed by Corona's double that advanced Banda to third. Banda scored on
Izabella Valdez's (San Antonio) sacrifice fly, tying the game 1-1. Truman State responded with a run of its own, regaining a 2-1 lead after the second.
In the fourth inning, Banda singled, and Melendez ran for her, scoring after both
Abigail Dela Rosa (La Grange, Texas) and
Emery Aguilar (Georgetown, Texas) singled, leveling the score at 2-2. Truman State's Brooke Nutte homered, giving the Bulldogs a 4-2 lead after the fourth, and they tacked on two in the fifth for the 6-2 final.
