April 4, 2008
San Antonio – Malissa Magee tossed a six-hit shutout in the first game to lead 20th-ranked St. Mary’s University to a split of their Heartland Conference softball doubleheader against St. Edward’s University, 6-0, 2-5, in action Friday afternoon at Rattler Field.
Magee (Sr., Katy) allowed four hits over the first three innings, but took advantage of a spectacular doubleplay turned by Sade Moore (Jr., Angleton) and some other good defense to keep the Hilltoppers scoreless. Magee settled down and allowed just two more hits over the final four innings. For the game she walked three and struck out nine to improve to 24-4 this season.
Offensively, the Rattlers took control early and never relinquished the lead. In the bottom of the first Moore singled to lead off and moved to second on a sacrifice by Mary K Pederson (Sr., Houston). Moore stole third base and after a walk to Kelly Baker (Fr., Arlington), she came home on a single by Arlynda Flores (So., Uvalde). Lauren Miller (Fr., Baytown) then reached on an error by shortstop Mandy Phillips, allowing Baker to score, giving the Rattlers a 2-0 lead after one inning.
In the fourth inning the Rattlers put the game away. Flores, Kelcy Walker (Sr., San Antonio), Nikki Flores (Jr., Friendswood) and Moore all had singles as St. Mary’s scored four runs in the inning to take a commanding 6-0 lead. Arlynda Flores went a perfect 3-of-3 in the game, while Moore also had two hits in the first game.
In the second game Karen Varteressian smacked a two-run homerun in the first inning and a late rally by the Rattlers fell short in a 5-2 loss. Diana Cezeaux limited the Rattlers to just two runs on four hits and one walk in a complete game win. Taryn Munoz (So., Bulverde) took the loss, falling to 10-3 this season.
With the split the Rattlers are now 34-8 overall, 13-1 in Heartland Conference play. St. Edward’s is now 31-9, 15-1. The teams will wrap up their four-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. at Diane Daniels in Austin.