OLLU Softball Clinches Red River Regular-Season Title After Sweep of A&M San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO (April 20, 2024) – The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) softball team clinched the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) regular-season title after defeated Texas A&M University-San Antonio (AM-SA) this afternoon. The Saints won both games in five innings, with the first one 11-0 and the second, 11-3. The Saints increased their win streak to 41 from Feb. 9-April 20, 2024. They own the longest win streak than any university in any division (NCAA D1, D2, D3 and NAIA).

The Saints move to 45-1 overall and 22-0 in the Red River Athletic Conference. AM-SA drops to 24-17 overall and 10-13 in conference.

In between games, the team honored Madison Garza and Eneli Garza for their individual senior day. After the games, the Saints recognized all the seniors, adding Alyssa Flores, Kayla Dreese, Alana Benitez, Cassandra Valdez, Marissa Bradley and Natalie Rodriguez.

History

The Saints are 13-2 against AM-SA. Last year, the Saints won 3-2, 13-0, 4-1 and 4-0 in the regular season. In the post season, the Saints lost 1-8 and won 13-0 and 6-0. Earlier this season, the Saints won 5-0 and 10-1.

Game One

Cassandra Valdez started in the circle and she eliminated all three batters, two on strikeouts and one on a ground out. In the Saints' first at-bat, Alyssa Flores reached on a fielder's choice and Madison Garza came in two score. Ava Hernandez hit a double to send both Flores and Natalie Rodriguez across the plate to give the Saints the 3-0 lead. Garza hit a double in the second to score Valdez and the Saints increased their lead to 4-0. The Saints added four runs in the third inning. Bradi Hill got things started by getting to base on a fielder's choice and sending Emilia Salinas home. With the bases loaded, a walk from Valdez scored Dreese. Garza hit her second double of the game and Eneli Garza and Kristee Salas both came home. The Saints now led 8-0. OLLU continued to dominate on offense by adding three more runs in the fourth inning. Cecilia Wilharm scored on an RBI by Salas. Ariana Alejandro scored on Eneli Garza's RBI. Valdez got another RBI after she walked with the bases loaded to score Dreese. The Saints led 11-0 and finished out the game in five innings to win.

Madison Garza went 3-for-3 adding a run and three RBIs. Flores went 2-for-3 and added one run and one RBI.

Valdez pitched four innings, while striking out seven and allowing just two hits. Valeria Vielma pitched one inning in relief.

Game Two

In the second game, the Jaguars threatened early with three hits in the first. A single from Haleigh McDonald scored Peyton Vasquez to put them up 1-0. Flores doubled down the left field line to send Valdez home and the game was tied at 1-1. In the third inning, the Saints rallied to score two runs. Natalie Rodriguez reached on an error, and Valdez came home. Grace Ross grounded out to the pitcher, and Madison Garza scored. The Saints now led 3-1. The Jaguars tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth inning after a hit to right field sent Gabby Garcia and Kiara McCoy home. A hit from Marissa Bradley in the bottom of the fourth put the Saints ahead at 4-3 after she scored Dreese. Madison Garza doubled to score Valdez and Salinas and put the Saints up 6-3. The Saints continued to explode on offense as Dreese's hit to centerfield sent Ava Hernandez and Ariana Alejandro home. Salas hit a single up the middle to score Dreese, and Madison Garza reached on an error to score Valdez and Salas. With that, the Saints took the 11-3 lead, ending the game in five innings.

Valdez went 2-for-3, adding four runs. Madison Garza went 1-for-4, adding four RBIs. Dreese went 1-for-2 adding two runs and two RBIs.

Ava Hernandez started in the circle for the Saints, and she went 3.1 innings, allowing three runs. Valdez came in relief with the game tied at 3-3 and pitched 1.2 innings to earn the win.

Hear from the Senior Class of 2024

What's next

The Saints will travel to the University of Houston-Victoria on April 23 for the last Red River Athletic Conference doubleheader of the regular season.