February 26, 2012
DENTON, Texas – The streaking St. Mary’s softball team wrapped up the weekend with a comeback win and a blowout win before enduring a brief hiccup that interrupted their recent momentum.
The Rattlers enjoyed a 3-2, come-from-behind win over Emporia State and an 11-1 stomping of Washburn on Saturday, only to fall 6-0 to Fort Hays State on Sunday in the final game of the 2012 Best Western Premier Spring Fling, hosted by Texas Woman’s University.
Against Emporia State on Saturday, the Rattlers (10-7) overcame an early 2-0 deficit by evening the score at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning and went ahead, 3-2, in the fourth. Shelly Lee Zawadzki (Jr., San Antonio), Katie Nichols (Jr., San Marcos, Texas) and Jared Gonzalez (Jr., San Antonio) each drove in one run apiece.
Freshman Vianna Gutierrez of San Antonio got the win after striking out five in the game.
There was less drama in Saturday’s victory over Washburn, as the Rattlers stormed out to a 9-1 lead thanks to a seven-run second inning in a run-rule victory called after five innings.
Making the most of her most playing time of the season, freshman Haley Richter (Hondo, Texas) led the way with three RBIs in two at-bats. Richelle Morales (Sr., San Antonio) also drove in three runs, while catcher Christina Rodriguez (Jr., San Antonio) had two RBIs.
Mari Bissaro (So., San Antonio) picked up the win in the circle, striking out three over five innings.
Meanwhile, the Rattlers looked poised for another comeback Sunday, as they trailed 2-0 heading into the final innings. But Fort Hays State closed the door on those thoughts, breezing further ahead with four more runs in the sixth.
St. Mary’s will be back in action on Wednesday, when it plays at Incarnate Word at 7 p.m.