Saints Softball Sweeps A&M-San Antonio To Open Conference Play

SAN ANTONIO (Feb. 24, 2024) – The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) softball team opened Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) play with a sweep of Texas A&M University – San Antonio (A&M-SA) this afternoon. The Saints won the first game 5-1 and took the second one in six innings 10-1. The No. 7 Saints improve to 12-1 overall and 2-0 in conference, while the Jaguars drop to 5-3 overall and 0-2 in conference.

Head Coach Bruce Lenington commented, "These were two great conference wins for us on the road. Our players did a great job of sticking with our offensive game plan in game one and many players contributed in game two. I'm excited to represent RRAC in an Oklahoma City tournament next weekend."

History

The Saints are 15-2 against A&M-SA. Last year, the teams played each other seven times. The Saints won 3-2, 13-0, 4-1, 4-0, 13-0 and 6-0. Their one loss was 1-8 in the conference tournament.

Game one

Kayla Dreese started her perfect 4-for-4 game with a double to centerfield to begin the first game. A sac fly from Natalie Rodriguez scored Dreese and the Saints took the 1-0 lead. The score stayed at 1-0 until the fifth inning when the Saints added two runs. Eneli Garza doubled, sending Kristee Salas home. Dreese singled to center to score Garza, and the Saints took the 3-0 lead. In the sixth inning, the Saints put their final two runs on the board. Tania Rodriguez doubled to right field, and Ava Hernandez came home. Salas followed with a hit that scored Madison Garza. The Saints headed into the seventh inning with a no-hitter from Cassandra Valdez. Yaya Jones hit a blooper down the left side to break up the streak.

Dreese went 4-for-4, including a double, a run and an RBI. Natalie Rodriguez, Salas, Tania Rodriguez and Eneli Garza each had one RBI. Dreese and Lexie Escamilla recorded a stolen base.

Valdez pitched a complete seven-inning game and allowed one hit, walked three and struck out a season high 13. A&M-SA's Ebbie Rodriguez also pitched a complete game and struck out one.

Game two 

Cassandra Valdez smashed her conference-leading fifth homer, and Kayla Dreese scored. The team had a three-run second inning. Dreese singled to the infield, and Bradi Hill scored. Valdez hit into a fielder's choice, giving Salas the go-ahead to score. Natalie Rodriguez hit a sac fly to score Eneli Garza to give the Saints the 5-0 lead. Valdez shot her sixth homer of the season in the fourth inning, and Dreese came home. Natalie Rodriguez followed with a home run. Andrea Ortiz prevented another shutout after she reached on a Saints error that scored Yaya Jones. The Saints now led 8-1. Celina Wilharm got her first homer of the season in the top of the sixth. A double from Natalie Rodriguez sent Valdez home. With the Jaguars unable to score to end the sixth, the game was called on the run-rule, with the Saints winning 10-1.

Valdez went 2-for-3, adding two home runs and five RBIs. Dreese went 2-for-4, adding two runs and an RBI. Natalie Rodriguez went 2-for-4, adding a home run and three RBIs. Dreese recorded a stolen base, and now has a conference-leading 10.

Ava Hernandez earned the win after pitching four innings, while striking out three. Valeria Vielma pitched two innings in relief. Allison Gutierrez suffered the loss after pitching one inning, allowing three runs and three hits.

What's next

The Saints will travel to Oklahoma City, Okla., March 1-2, to participate in the Red Dirt Classic. They will play Texas Wesleyan University first on March 1 at 12:30 p.m.