ODESSA, Texas (February 28, 2025) – A six-run sixth top of the first inning during game one and a pair of four-run innings in game two propelled St. Mary's University past The University of Texas Permian Basin softball on Friday at the UTPB Softball Park. In the end, the Rattlers won 9-1 in five innings in game one and 8-0 in six innings in game two.
 
Game 1 (UTPB 1, StMU 9):

• StMU sent 12 batters to the plate in the top of first inning and scored six runs on four hits, three walks, two hit by pitches and one wild pitch.
• Shortstop Kylie Parker made a great diving catch in the hole between third and short to end the top of the second inning.
• UTPB then got on the board in the bottom of the second as Michaella Baker led off with a hit by pitch and was replaced on the base paths by Mia Serrato. Serrato then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Ramirez and scored on an RBI-double to left center field by Nia Brown.
• UTPB relief pitcher Emery Aguilar did not allow a hit from two outs in the first inning until with one out in the fourth inning and kept the Rattlers off the scoreboard in the second and third innings. In the fourth, however, a three-run inning after a pair of walks to get two runners on base with one out got StMU to the eight-run lead it needed.
• In the bottom of the fourth, StMU left fielder Lauren Gonzalez made a pair of extra-base robbing catches up against the fence off the bats of Ramirez and Angelina Arriaga.
• Meghan Gattis got three straight flyouts in the top of the fifth inning, and the Falcons were unable to do anything with a one-out single to left field by Lauren Lopez in the bottom half.
• UTPB was held to three hits in game one while StMU scored its nine runs on seven hits, none of which were extra-base hits, and drew six walks.
• Emily Ayala (4-0) pitched all five innings for the Rattlers and did not issue a single walk, but her day was far from over.

 
Game 2 (UTPB 0, StMU 8):

• A diving catch by Ramirez in center field started off the game, and then a double play hit back to the pitcher, Jessica Cantrell (3-5), in the third inning helped keep the game scoreless through three innings.
• For UTPB, Carlee Quintero led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk and stole second base with one out before being stranded on back-to-back flyouts, and a caught stealing at second base in the bottom of the second kept a runner out of scoring position.
• UTPB got its lone hit of the game on a two-out single to second base by Aguilar, putting two runners on base for the Falcons in the bottom of the third inning, but in the top of the fourth, a double off the fence in right field put two runners on with no outs for the Rattlers. That led to a two-run single to right field and a four-run inning overall featuring two UTPB errors and three unearned runs on Cantrell's line.
• In the top of the sixth, StMU blew the game open with a three-run bomb to left field by Ayala, the Rattlers' leadoff hitter and game one starting pitcher, and then back-to-back doubles, including an RBI-double off the fence in right center field, scored the eighth run of the game for the StMU.
• After no extra-base hits in game one, the Rattlers struck back with five doubles and a home run in game two, including a double, a home run and four runs batted in by Ayala.
• Madeline Bloom (6-1) pitched the complete game shutout, allowed just four baserunners, and retired 10 straight Falcons to end the game.

 
Team Records:

• UTPB falls to 5-15 overall and 0-10 in the Lone Star Conference.
• St. Mary's improves to 11-10 and 6-4. In three weekends of LSC action, the Rattlers have swept their first series of the weekend all three times.

 
Next Up: UT Permian Basin is back in action at home on Sunday, March 2, hosting St. Edward's University. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 12 p.m. from the UTPB Softball Park.