February 1, 2007
San Antonio – Malissa Magee allowed two hits over seven innings to help St. Mary’s University open the 2007 softball season with a 4-0 win over Southern Arkansas University on the first day of the St. Mary’s University NCAA Division II College Classic Thursday night at Rattler Field.
Magee (Jr., Houston) struck out 10, walked none and allowed just two singles to open the season with a victory. Magee went 29-8 last season for the Rattlers and was named Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season. Magee retired the first 10 batters she faced before hitting Stephanie Beason with a pitch with one out in the fourth inning. Samantha Hoelscher was the first batter for SAU to pick up a hit against Magee when she blooped a single down the left field line.
The Rattlers broke out on top in the second inning. With one out Ashley Flores (So., Friendswood) doubled to the wall in leftfield. Lindsay Magaro (Sr., Elmendorf) followed with a walk and Sarah Cooper (Jr., Houston) reached on an error to load the bases. Mary K Pederson (Jr., Houston) then put the Rattlers ahead with a sacrifice fly to score Flores.
St. Mary’s then broke open the game in the fifth with three runs. Magaro led off with a double to left-center and Cooper followed with a single to put runners on the corners. One out later Brittany Kettinger (Jr., Azle) singled to shortstop to score Cooper. One out later Lindsay Barnes lined a single to left, scoring both Kettinger and Pederson to give the Rattlers a 4-0.
With the win the Rattlers open the season 1-0, while Southern Arkansas is 0-1. Play will continue in the St. Mary’s NCAA Division II College Classic Tournament, starting at 9 a.m. Friday morning. The Rattlers will return to action at 1:30 p.m. against Texas Woman’s. They will also take on Southeastern Oklahoma State at 3:45 p.m.