The softball team crushed Texas A&M University-San Antonio (A&M-SA) 9-0 in the first game of the doubleheader in five innings and then struggled in the second to win in walk-off fashion 9-8. The Saints improve to 31-8 overall and 16-4 in the Red River Athletic Conference. The team has won 15 consecutive games.
A&M-SA drops to 17-21 overall and 11-7 in the conference.
History
The Saints are 7-1 against the Jaguars. The Saints won 11-4 and lost 6-7 against the Jaguars earlier this season. Last year, the Saints won 2-0, 7-1 and 5-1.
Game One, 9-0 (5 Innings)
Cassandra Valdez, who improves to 15-4 on the season, started in the circle for OLLU. She pitched all five innings, facing 18 batters and striking out eight to earn the win.
The Saints’ offense kicked off its dominance in the first as Madison Nunn got a four-run rally started with a double. Ariel Montgomery followed with a homer. A double from Caitlin Terrazas was also followed by a home run by Rebecca Duran. The Saints now led 4-0.
After a two-strikeout and pop-up inning from Valdez, a sacrifice fly from Kayla Dreese sent Joanna Gonzalez home to improve OLLU’s lead to 5-0.
Another three-up, three-down inning for Valdez in the third was followed by a two-run inning for the Saints. Kaitlyn Esparza scored on a throwing error, and Valdez followed to move the Saints to 7-0.
The Jaguars threatened in the fourth inning after a Saints error, but two runners were left on base to end the inning.
Kristee Salas started the fourth inning with a double, and Nunn homered; the Saints moved to 9-0.
Once again, the Jaguars threatened to score as they entered the fifth, marking no hits on the board. But a single from G. Mitchell ended Valdez’s quest for the no-hitter. P. Vasquez also hit to the infield, but the team could not capitalize on their offensive efforts, so the game ended in the run-rule with the Saints winning 9-0.
Nun and Montgomery both went 2-for-3, with Nunn scoring two runs and Montgomery one. Both had two RBIs. Duran went 1-for-2 and had a homer and two RBIs.
Game Two, 9-8
Ariel Montgomery started in the circle for the Saints, and she pitched 5.1 innings while allowing six hits, three runs-one unearned and striking out two. Cassandra Valdez came in and pitched two innings. She allowed five runs and struck out five. Angela Ramirez closed out the game and had two at-bats to earn the 9-8 win.
The Jaguars scored their first run of the day to begin the game. P. Vasquez scored on a throwing error to give her team the 1-0 lead.
OLLU did not waste time and added three runs in the bottom frame. Nunn got on base, and Montgomery doubled to send her home. A sac fly from Valdez scored Montgomery. Terrazas followed with a home run, and the Saints took the 3-1 lead.
The Saints added two more runs in the third inning. Valdez scored on a throwing error, and Terrazas followed home to put the Saints ahead at 5-1.
A double from K. Guzman scored G. Mitchell, and the Saints continued to lead 5-2.
The Saints figured they had the win in the fourth inning after scoring two more runs. Dreese hit a triple, and she scored on a fielder’s choice play from Nunn. Montgomery hit a sac fly, and Nunn came home; the Saints took the 7-2 lead.
A&M-SA scored three runs in the sixth inning after a three-run home run from K. Guzman, and the Saints continued to lead 7-5.
The Jaguars took the lead in the seventh inning. A. Ortiz scored on a Saints error to begin the rally. J. Pinzo hit a sac fly and P. Vasquez came home. A single from Garces sent Rangel home, and the Jaguars now led 8-7.
Kristee Salas hit a sac fly in the bottom of the frame to score Valdez and tie the game at 8-8.
Angela Ramirez came in in the eighth inning to pitch. She was able to avert a run and put the game’s fate on her offense. Dreese started the rally with a double. Nunn bunted to third, moving Dreese to third. She scored on a throwing error to give the Saints the 9-8 win.
Caitlin Terrazas went 3-for-3 and had two runs and an RBI. Kayla Dreese went 3-for-5 and had two runs. Madison Nunn went 2-for-3, scoring two runs and adding an RBI. Ariel Montgomery had two RBIs. Dreese added a triple and double, while Montgomery marked one double, and Terrazas had a home run.