March 7, 2007
San Antonio – Brittany Kettinger’s pinch-hit double in the bottom of the eighth inning completed a late inning rally as St. Mary’s University defeated Regis 3-2 to earn a split of a doubleheader in softball action Wednesday afternoon at Rattler Field.
Malissa Magee (Jr., Houston) and Ali Davenport traded goose-eggs for the majority of the first six innings. It was one mistake pitch by Magee that gave RU a lead that they held until late. In the top of the fifth inning Michelle Johnston singled to lead off and one out later Anna Schaffer smacked a homerun to center, giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead.
That was where things would stay until the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out Jenna Saucedo (So., San Antonio) singled up the middle and moved to second on a ground out. Sade Moore (So., Angleton) then hit a grounder that Schaffer bobbled, putting runners on the corners with two outs. The Rattlers then executed a perfect double steal with Saucedo coming home with the first run of the game for St. Mary’s. Mary K Pederson (Jr., Houston) smacked a single to center, scoring Moore with the tying run.
In the bottom of the eighth St. Mary’s then finally finished things. Saucedo led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lindsey Magaro (Sr., Elmendorf). That brought up Kettinger (Jr., Azle), who pinch hit for Moore and lined a double to right, scoring Saucedo with the winning run.
Magee went the distance for her 10th win of the season against just three losses, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk, while striking out eight. Davenport took the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits and four walks.
In the first game of the doubleheader Kaitlyn Gentert outdueled Kettinger for a 3-2 win. Gentert allowed just two runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out two to improve to 3-3 on the season. Kettinger fell to 5-3 with the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks, but struck out a season-high eight.
The Rattlers took the early lead in the second inning when Heather Monroe (Fr., New Braunfels) took a 0-2 pitch and powered it over the wall in leftfield for a 1-0 Rattler lead. The Rangers tied things up at 1-1 in the top of the inning when Christine Gardella was hit by a pitch, stole second and came around to score on a fielder’s choice. The Rangers then took the lead in the fourth inning when Michelle Johnston smacked her first homerun of the season to right field.
St. Mary’s came back to tie things at two in the fifth inning. Magaro walked and came around to score on Saucedo’s single to left when leftfielder Jacqueleen Martinez let the ball go under her glove.
Regis then went ahead for good in the seventh inning. Erica Solano singled for the third time in the game to lead off. She moved to third on an error by catcher Mariah Piper. She then came home on a single to center by Monica Atencio.
With the split St. Mary’s is now 18-7 overall. Regis is 4-8. The Rattlers will return to action on Friday when they travel to Austin to play in the Hilltopper Classic. They will face 6th-ranked Emporia State University in the first round of the tournament at 10 a.m.