March 14, 2007
San Antonio – Malissa Magee won two games on the mound and Lindsey Barnes smacked a pair of homeruns to lead 10th-ranked St. Mary’s University to a doubleheader sweep of Lincoln University, 3-2, 10-0, in Heartland Conference softball action Wednesday afternoon at Rattler Field.
Magee (Sr., Houston) came on in relief in the first game of the doubleheader and worked her way out of a no-outs two runners on jam in the seventh inning to win her 13th game of the season. She followed that up with a complete game two-hitter in the nightcap, striking out five and walking two to improve to 14-5. She has tossed back-to-back shutouts and has seven shutouts this season. Her ERA dropped to 0.71 with the scoreless innings.
In the first game the Rattlers broke out of a scoreless tie when Barnes (Jr., San Antonio) smacked a solo homerun in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Blue Tigers tied things up at 1-1 in the top of the fifth before the Rattlers took the lead again. Taryn Munoz (Fr., Bulverde) and Mary K Pederson (Jr., Houston) led off with back-to-back singles and moved to second and third, respectively on a sacrifice bunt. Brittany Kettinger (Jr., Azle) then brought Munoz home on a ground out to the pitcher.
Again Lincoln tied things in the top of the sixth, this time on an error by Kettinger. That prompted a call to the pen for Magee, who ended the threat in the sixth. The Rattlers responded in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good. The first three batters of the inning reached for the Rattlers and Lindsey Magaro (Sr., Bulverde) brought home Heather Monroe (Fr., New Braunfels) with a ground out to give the Rattlers a 3-2 lead.
In game two the Rattlers wasted no time in taking the early lead, then blew the game open late. With two outs in the first inning Barnes lined a double to left-center, allowing Kelcy Walker (Jr., San Antonio) to score. That was where the score would stay for the next four innings. In the fifth inning the Rattlers loaded the bases on singles by Sade Moore (So., Angleton) and Sarah Cooper (Jr., Houston) and a Kettinger walk. That brought up Walker, who doubled to right-center, scoring Munoz, who pinch ran for Moore, and Cooper. One out later Pederson lined a single to left, scoring Kettinger and Walker to give the Rattlers a 5-0 lead. The following inning Walker drew a bases-loaded walk and Barnes followed with a grand slam homerun to end the game.
Taking the loss in game two was Jessica Fowler (0-4). She allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings. In game one Nikki Nelke dropped to 4-7 as she allowed three runs on seven hits and one walk in six innings.
With the sweep St. Mary’s improved to 24-10 overall this season and 4-0 in Heartland play. The Rattlers have won six straight games. Lincoln fell to 4-11 and 1-6. St. Mary’s will travel to Abilene to face Mesa State on Thursday at noon.