San Antonio – Malissa Magee allowed just one run in a complete game win, helping St. Mary’s University to a split of a doubleheader against Tarleton State University, 2-1, 0-3, in softball action Saturday afternoon at Rattler Field.

Magee (Jr., Houston) had her struggles in the first two innings, but settled down over the final five innings. With one out in the second inning Chaunteau Starry reached on an infield single and moved to third on a Nicole Cone double to left center. Kasi Dobbs then hit a ground ball that shortstop Heather Monroe (Fr., New Braunfels) bobbled the ball, allowing Starry to score. Magee was able to overcome the error, striking out Sara Hammond and getting Ashley Bray to line out to center to end the threat.

After that Magee settled down and retired 15 straight batters until Cone singled with one out in the seventh inning. Cone was followed by Dobbs, who also singled to put two runners on with one out. However, she struck out April Gonzalez and got Kelli Gayne to ground out to end the threat.

The Rattlers broke the 1-1 tie in the fifth inning. Mary K Pederson (Jr., Houston) singled to lead off. Sarah Cooper (Jr., Houston) followed with a single down the leftfield line. Kelsey Walker (Jr., San Antonio) moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Lindsay Barnes (Jr., San Antonio) then gave the Rattlers the lead when she hit a ground ball to third, which brought home Pederson with the go ahead run.

In game two the Rattlers Brittany Kettinger (Jr., Azle) and the TexAnns Brooke Saulters hooked up in a pitchers duel for the first six innings of the game. After allowing a lead-off single to Pederson Saulters retired the next 17 batters before Cooper singled with two outs in the sixth inning.

After dancing in and out of trouble for six innings, Kettinger’s luck finally ran out in the seventh. Lindsay Moore singled to lead off and one out later Saulters reached on an infield single. A single to center by Kelli Gayle loaded the bases with one out. Brooke LaRue struck out for the second out, but Nicole Cone took the first pitch she saw and smacked it to the right-centerfield gap, scoring all three runners. That was all Saulters needed as she finished off her three-hit shutout in the bottom of the inning.

Kettinger fell to 4-2 on the season with the loss, allowing three runs on 11 hits, while striking out six in the complete game loss. Saulters improved to 6-1, allowing just three hits, while striking out five in the complete game shutout.

With the split the Rattlers are now 14-5 overall this season. Tarleton State is now 10-4. The Rattlers will return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Kingsville to face Texas A&M University-Kingsville at 5 p.m.

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