St. Mary’s bats get going against UIW

By Christine Justice
San Antonio Express-News
Web Posted:
04/18/2003 12:00 a.m.

It wasn’t the ideal 21st birthday, but Incarnate Word pitcher Casey Gross tried to make the most of it.

After Incarnate Word lost the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader to crosstown rival St. Mary’s 2-0, Gross’ two-run home run in the third inning of the nightcap at least kept the Crusaders (13-29) from being shut out twice.

Still, UIW dropped the second game 11-2 in five innings.

“(Gross) might have felt she wasn’t getting a lot of help (in the field),” Crusaders coach Kevin Jannusch said, “but when the bat is in her hands she feels she is in control, and she is.

“(The home run) is great considering what is going on around her.”

What is going on is an injury-riddled roster that continues to dwindle.

Thursday, one of the soccer players Jannusch recruited the previous day to aid the shrinking roster was taken to the emergency room after a fly ball tipped her glove and hit her in the nose.

St. Mary’s coach Donna Fields said both teams seemed sluggish in the first game, but the second game was a different story.

“I fussed at the girls after the first game. I told them at this point, with the success we’re having, it doesn’t matter who we’re playing; we have to focus on getting better,” Fields said. “It is the only way to reach the ultimate goal.”

Her fussing worked.

Rattlers leadoff batter Tiffani Craft bunted safely, stole second and then advanced to third on a passed ball. The No. 2 batter, Kym Kling, singled down the third-base line, scoring Craft.

Roni Garcia singled and Kling moved to third on an errant throw. Jennifer Survant’s sacrifice fly scored Kling, and Kristin Simmons’ single scored Garcia to give St. Mary’s (40-10) a three-run lead.

In the first game, Kling tossed a three-hitter and Terrie Cox hit a solo homer.

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