ST. MARY’S FINISHES LINCOLN UNIVERSITY
The Rattlers swept the Blue Tigers out of Rattler Field on March 14 with wins of 3-2 and 10-0. Lincoln University falls to 4-11 overall and 1-6 in Heartland Conference play. St. Mary’s ranked 10th in the March 14 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Top 25 Poll improves to 24-10 and 4-0.
The Blue Tigers are traveling to Odessa, Texas to play University of Texas of the Permian Basin on March 16 and 17. The March 16 games with the Falcons (10-12) start at 1:00 p.m. on the Outdoor Field at UTPB.
GAME ONE
St. Mary’s led 1-0 after a home run by Lindsay Barnes in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Blue Tigers tied the game 1-1 in the top of the fifth. Three consecutive singles by Beth Arnel, Lesley Osborne and Nikki Nelke loaded the bases. Asia Coleman got a Run Batted In with a groundout to Mary K. Pederson (third base) that scored Arnel and moved Osborne and Nelke up a base.
The Rattlers added a run in the fifth to regain an advantage 2-1.
Lincoln University knotted the game 2-2 in the sixth. Jessica Fowler drew a lead off walk and moved to second on an error by Barnes (catcher). A fly out to centerfield by Abby Stuenkel gave Fowler time to run to third base. Fowler scored on an error by the Rattlers starting pitcher, Brittany Kettinger.
Heather Monroe was hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth for St. Mary’s. A sacrifice bunt off the bat of Nikki Flores resulted in an error by Stuenkel (third base) allowing Monroe to run to third. Monroe scored on a groundout by Lindsey Magaro for a 3-2 lead.
Nelke was 2-3 at the plate with a pair of singles.
Lincoln University had one of their better hitting games in the 3-2 defeat. The six hits by the Blue Tigers tied the second most they have produced in a game this season.
Five of the six runners left on base by the Blue Tigers were stranded in scoring position.
GAME TWO
The Rattlers smashed 11 hits in run ruling the Blue Tigers 10-0 in six innings. St. Mary’s scored a combined nine runs on seven hits in the fifth and six innings.
Lincoln University had two hits or less for the seventh game this season. The hits were from Nelke (1-1) and Osborne (1-2).
Three of the four Blue Tigers were left on base in scoring position.
