PORTALES, N.M. — The St. Mary's University Softball team split a doubleheader at Eastern New Mexico on Friday afternoon, coming from behind to win game one, 7-5, before the Greyhounds were able to hold on for a 6-4 win in the second contest.
Sophomore
Miah Corona (Eddy, Texas) had the hot bat, going 5-for-7 with a home run and four RBI for a slugging percentage of 1.143 on the day. Both
Abigail Dela Rosa (La Grange, Texas) and senior
Raegan Tennill (Corpus Christi, Texas) hit .500 or better, with Dela Rosa going 4-for-7 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Tennill was 3-for-6, scoring three times.
The loss in game two snaps a six-game winning streak for the Rattlers (18-9, 10-4), the longest of the season and the longest for StMU since the 2024 team won seven straight from March 2 through March 8.
The Rattlers will face their toughest test of the season on Sunday, playing at No. 2 West Texas A&M. The Lady Buffs swept the Hilltoppers on Friday evening.
GAME ONE (St. Mary's 7, Eastern New Mexico 5)
Once again, the Rattlers proved you can never count them out of a game, scoring seven runs in the final two innings to complete the 7-5 win after trailing 5-0. The 14 hits for the Rattlers in game one are the second-most in a game this season, trailing only the 16 the team had in a 16-10 win at Texas Woman's on Feb. 28.
Junior
Emery Aguilar (Georgetown, Texas) improved to 6-1 with the win, as she entered in the fifth inning in relief of senior
Ariella Saenz (Pharr, Texas). Saenz gave up three runs on seven hits and struck out one in 4 1/3 innings, while Aguilar gave up two runs on three hits with a strikeout and a walk, but retired the side in order in both the sixth and seventh innings
ENMU scored in the bottom of the first on a home run by Talia Martin for a 1-0 lead. The Rattlers had an opportunity in the top of the second inning, but were unable to capitalize on three-straight singles. Corona roped a line drive through the right side of the infield, and Dela Rosa laced a come-backer to the pitcher. Saenz singled, but Corona was thrown out at home after Dela Rosa had headed to third when Corona had stopped at third.
The Greyhounds added four runs in the fifth inning on four hits, including a three-run homer by Christina Meneses for the 5-0 advantage, but the cardiac Rattlers mounted a comeback in the final frames.
Tennill walked to lead off the sixth and came around to score on a Corona home run to left field. Dela Rosa singled to right center, stole second and moved to third on a dropped third strike by the catcher on Saenz's at bat. Valdez hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield for the 5-3 score.
In the top of the seventh, Tennill again led off, this time kicking things off with a single to the gap in right center. Corona made it a 4-for-4 day with a single down the right field line to put runners on the corners, and freshman
Emma Wilson (Bulverde, Texas) entered to run for her, promptly stealing second base. Dela Rosa also stayed perfect at the plate, doubling to left center to drive in two runs and knot the score at 5-5. After a pitching change, Saenz singled through the 5-6 hole on the left side of the infield and moved to second on the throw to third. Sophomore
Jaylan Roberson (Elgin, Texas) ran for Saenz and scored from second, along with Dela Rosa, on a double down the left field line by sophomore
Izabella Valdez (San Antonio). Aguilar retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh for the win.
GAME TWO (Eastern New Mexico 6, St. Mary's 4)
Despite collecting as many hits (7) as the Greyhounds, the Rattlers couldn't match them in runs scored, dropping game two 6-4.
Junior
Iliana Melendez (Seabrook, Texas) was 2-for-4 in the game at the plate with a run scored and an RBI, while Tennill was 2-for-3 and one of each.
Senior
Breanna Ford (Corpus Christi) started in the circle, but struggled with control, lasting only one inning. Senior
Emily Ayala (San Antonio) was credited with the loss, giving up one run on three hits in three innings with a walk and a strikeout to move to 2-3 on the season. Aguilar pitched the final two frames with an identical line to Ayala.
The Rattlers wasted no time breaking onto the scoreboard in the second game. The Greyhounds knew the speed of
Bryley Westfahl (San Antonio) and committed a fielding error in allowing her to reach. She stole second and scored easily on a double to the gap by
Iliana Melendez for a 1-0 lead.
Eastern New Mexico scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning on three hits, two walks and a hit batter. The Rattlers tied the game at 4-4 with three runs of their own in the third. With one out, Westfahl and Melendez both drove singles through the opposite sides of the infield. Westfahl scored on a single up the middle by Tennill, who stole second. She and Melendez both scored on a Corona single to left field.
A home run by Seneca Aarstad in the fourth and a run on three hits in the sixth for the Greyhounds made the final score 6-4.
