February 7, 2007
San Antonio – Angelo State University used strong pitching and timely hitting to win game one, then out slugged St. Mary’s University in the second game to sweep a doubleheader from the Rattlers, 4-1, 12-8, in softball action Tuesday night at Rattler Field.
The Rattlers looked to have game two well in hand when they took a 6-3 lead in the third inning. But ASU responded with seven runs in the fifth inning to take the lead at 10-6. A two-run homerun by Lindsay Barnes (Jr., San Antonio) cut the deficit to just two at 10-8. But the Rambelles iced the game with two more runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Game one was a pitcher’s dual in comparison with game two. Malissa Magee (Jr., Houston) and Kari Galm both allowed a second inning run before settling down. The Rambelles struck first when Leina Braxton reached on an error with one out. One out later another error allowed Dionne Lopez to reach and Braxton to score.
In the bottom of the inning the Rattlers tied things up. Lindsay Barnes (Jr. San Antonio) singled to center to lead off and her pinch runner, Elizabeth Joyce (Fr., San Antonio), moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Nikki Flores (So., Friendswood) then brought Joyce home with a single to right, tying things at 1-1.
That was where things stayed until the seventh inning when the Rambelles became the first team this season to score an earned run off Magee. Lopez was hit by a pitch to lead off. She was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, but it looked as if Magee would work her way out of the jam when she coaxed a ground out by Whitney Meeks for the second out. But Brittney Cargill singled to left and Lopez barely beat the tag at home plate to give ASU the lead. Kaycee Taylor then sent the second pitch she saw over the right field wall for a two-run homerun. Magee dropped to 3-1 on the season with the loss.
The Rattlers had allowed just one earned run entering the doubleheader in five previous games this season. They gave up 10 earned runs against ASU. Lindsay Magaro (Sr., Elmendorf) went a combined 4-of-7 in the doubleheader. Barnes was 3-of-6 with three RBI and a homerun.
The Rattlers fell to 5-2 overall on the season, while Angelo State improved to 10-0. St. Mary’s will return to action on Friday when they travel to Abilene to take part in the Abilene Christian Tournament on Friday and Saturday. They will face Fort Lewis on Friday at 11 a.m. in the tournament opener.