SAN ANTONIO – A book signing, a rain delay, a surprise announcer for the game one starting lineup, and a celebration of the 2026 senior class helped take the sting out of a doubleheader loss to No. 13 Angelo State on Sunday by the St. Mary's University Softball team. The Rambelles won the games 6-4 and 5-0.
Prior to the first game, the Rattlers (25-20, 17-15) met with Judge Nelson W. Wolff, who recently released his eighth book, The Elysian Fields of Baseball: The Spiritual Evolution of America's Game. Wolff, a two-time graduate of St. Mary's, the former Mayor of San Antonio and a Bexar County judge for 21 years, hand-signed a book and had a short story for each player in regard to their hometown or high school. He also threw out the first pitch.
The Rattlers were also surprised as
Madison Magaro's grandfather announced the starting lineup for St. Mary's. He is a long-time announcer for Incarnate Word High School and lent his voice to the introductions.
After the second game, the seven seniors on the roster were honored for their contributions both on and off the field.
The Rattlers wrap up the home portion of their schedule on Monday, hosting UT Permian Basin for a doubleheader that is scheduled for first pitch at Noon.
GAME ONE (ASU 6, StMU 4)
The Rameblles (38-9, 27-5) scored two runs in each of the first two innings and led 5-1 when the Rattlers mounted a comeback in the bottom of the fifth.
StMU plated three runs and had the bases loaded when Mother Nature interfered with the momentum and forced an 82-minute rain delay. After the break, the Rambelles were able to retire the next two batters and leave the trio stranded for the 5-4 score. ASU scored an insurance run in the seventh for the 6-4 victory.
Senior
Ariella Saenz (Pharr, Texas) tied her season-high with 135 pitches. She dropped to 11-7 on the season after giving up three earned runs (six total) on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Junior
Emery Aguilar (Georgetown, Texas) pitched the final 2/3 of an inning, allowing one hit and one walk in her four batters faced.
Junior
Gabriela Banda (San Antonio) was 2-for-4 with an RBI to pace the offense, and Saenz helped her own cause with her second home run of the year, sending a shot into the bullpen in the second inning.
GAME TWO (ASU 5, StMU 0)
Junior
Iliana Melendez (Seabrook, Texas) broke up Ashleigh Dendas's no-hitter with a single between the shortstop and third baseman in the bottom of the sixth with one out, and it ended up being the only hit of the game for the Rattlers in the nightcap, though junior
Bryley Westfahl (San Antonio) was on base twice with walks.
The Rambelles once again jumped out early, scoring three in the first and they added two in the third for the only five runs of the game.
Senior
Emily Ayala (San Antonio) took the loss in the circle, moving to 2-7 on the year after allowing five runs on five hits with two walks in three innings. Senior
Breanna Ford (Corpus Christi, Texas) pitched the final four innings, walking three, allowing three hits and hitting four batters.
