February 20, 2007
San Antonio – Malissa Magee and Brittany Kettinger each tossed complete game shutouts to lead St. Mary’s University to a sweep of the University of the Incarnate Word, 1-0, 4-0, in Heartland Conference softball action Tuesday night at Rattler Field.
In game one Kettinger (Jr., Azle) allowed just four hits and one walk, while striking out three in picking up her third shutout of the season. For six innings she was matched by Cardinal starter Amanda Sparks, who worked her way in and out of trouble until the seventh inning. Jenna Saucedo (So., San Antonio) singled to left-center to lead off and a ground out moved Saucedo to second. Kettinger then came up the plate and hit a routine ground ball to shortstop Patty Madera. However, Madera was unable to field the ball and it went into the outfield. Then leftfielder Michelle Luna couldn’t handle the ball, allowing Saucedo to score the only run of the game. The two errors were the only two of the game.
Sparks fell to 1-2 on the season, allowing the unearned run on three hits and five walks, while striking out one in 6 1/3 innings of work.
The second game started out as a pitchers duel between Magee (Jr., Houston) and Melissa Perez. UIW started the game with back-to-back hits by Allison Britt and Erin Whitt. But Magee settled down and retired the next three batters to get out of the jam. In the fourth the Cardinals put two of the first three batters on base. But again Magee was able to end the threat, striking out Corrie Gonzales to end the inning.
After UIW left five runners on over the first four innings, but failed to score the Rattlers took advantage of their first strong scoring opportunity in the bottom of the inning. With one out Lindsay Barnes (Jr., San Antonio) singled to right. Elizabeth Joyce (Fr., San Antonio) pinch ran for Barnes and moved to second on a ground out. Heather Monroe (Fr., New Braunfels) walked and Jenna Saucedo (So., San Antonio) followed with a double to right-center, scoring both Joyce and Monroe.
From there Magee settled down and held the Cardinals to just one hit over the last three innings. She retired the last seven batters in a row to end the game. Magee improved to 7-3 overall and posted her fourth shutout of the season, while lowering her ERA to just 0.96. She allowed just six hits, while striking out five over the seven innings. Perez fell to 1-6, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and three walks.
With the wins the Rattlers improved to 13-4 and have won their last three games in a row. UIW fell to 3-10 overall and has lost six straight. The Rattlers will return to action on Saturday when they host Tarleton State in a non-conference doubleheader, starting at 1 p.m. at Rattler Field.