The softball team swept the University of the Southwest (USW) in a doubleheader on March 25. The Saints improve to 21-8 overall and 8-4 in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). The Mustangs fall to 5-16 overall and 2-6 in conference.
Head Coach Bruce Lenington said, “This was one of our most complete performances from start to finish. Cassandra Valdez (JR/Brownsville, Texas) had a great doubleheader on the mound and in the batter’s box. The rest of the team was really locked in. We look forward to playing six games next week.”
History
The Saints were 35-13 against USW prior to the doubleheader.
Game one, 12-0
The Saints’ offense surged in game one of the doubleheader. They scored 12 runs on 16 hits to win 12-0 in five innings. Starting pitcher Valdez allowed only one hit and struck out 10 batters in four innings of work to earn the win. Kelly Anne Salinas (JR/Laredo, Texas) closed the game on the mound in the final inning. Ariel Montgomery (SR/Castroville, Texas), Valdez and Caitlin Terrazas (SR/Atascosa, Texas) all picked up RBIs in a four-run first inning. The Saints tacked on three more runs in the third inning, one in the fourth and four in the fifth. OLLU limited the Mustangs to four hits.
Valdez batted 4-for-4 and Terrazas tallied four RBIs. Four Saints players had a multi-hit game.
Game two, 7-0
The Saints shut out the Mustangs in game two to complete the doubleheader sweep. Kristee Salas (JR/Edinburg, Texas) opened the scoring in the second inning by hitting a single to bring in Joanna Gonzalez (SR/San Benito, Texas). OLLU added two more runs in the fourth inning, including a triple by Rebecca Duran (SR/Austin, Texas) to score Terrazas. The Saints scored one run in the following inning and three in the seventh inning to win 7-0, backed by 11 hits.
Starting pitcher Angela Ramirez (SR/Converse, Texas) was awarded the win after pitching 3.2 innings without allowing a run. Valdez pitched the remaining 3.1 innings with five strikeouts. Valdez also went 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI. Montgomery had two RBIs and a double.
Up next
The Saints return home to host the University of Houston-Victoria in a doubleheader on Tuesday starting at 1 p.m.