DENTON, Texas (March 14, 2022) – Da'Jia Davis hit her second home run of the season, but the Texas Woman's University softball team dropped two games to No. 25 St. Mary's University on Monday evening.
 
TWU (8-11, 3-5 Lone Star Conference) lost game one 7-4. Then, after a short weather delay, STMU (23-4, 7-1) scored eight runs in six innings to complete the sweep of the Pioneers.
 
To open the first game, the Rattlers scored one run in the first inning and one run in the second inning. The Pioneers defense faced four batters in the third inning, allowed one walk, but no runs. After being held scoreless, STMU responded in the top of the fourth inning and scored two runs to take a 4-0 lead.
 
Prior to the actual lightning delay, figurative lightning struck the Pioneers, and they came alive in the fifth inning.
 
The ignition began with the Pioneers starting pitcher Jules Malis. She faced three batters in the top of the fifth, striking out two batters and getting a pop up out from the first batter.
 
After going three-up three-down in the top of the fifth, Davis stepped up to bat and crushed her second home run of the season over the left field fence to get the Pioneers on the board. Davis's hit ignited positive offense for the Pioneers.
 
With two outs on the board, Nya Brown placed a hit perfectly down the left field line that rolled deep, which resulted in Kristin Rodriguez and Alexys Ginegaw scoring runs. Looking for the tying run, Rylee Lara was walked, but Jalee McDonald popped up to close the inning. Nevertheless, the Pioneers found themselves within one run with three more innings of play.
 
In the sixth inning, the Rattlers scored three more runs to take a 7-3 lead, but the Pioneers continued to fight. Briana Yale, in the second spot of the sixth inning, hit a single through the right side to get on base. She advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then to third on a Davis single.
 
There was one out and Cecily Rodriguez hits a sac fly and Yale scores the Pioneers fourth run of the game. Then, Gracelyn Taylor grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.
 
TWU's defense held strong in the top of the seventh. With McDonald pitching, the Pioneers were able to hold the Rattlers scoreless, giving themselves a chance in the final inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Kristin Rodriguez popped up to the shortstop and Brown singled through the left side, before the game had to be paused due to a lightning delay.
 
After about 35 minutes, the game resumed but no lightning struck for the Pioneers as the next batters hit pop ups to end the game.
 
Malis (3-6) recorded five strikeouts and recorded the loss.
Brown led the Pioneers on offense with two hits and two RBIs. Davis also recorded two hits.
 
Between games, the field was once again cleared for a weather delay. At 6:45 p.m., the second game begun.
 
The Pioneers held the Rattlers scoreless in the first inning, including a solid catch by the Pioneers left fielder Kristin Rodriguez. Then, STMU scored one run in the second inning and one run in the third inning.
 
After going down 2-0, the Pioneers held the Rattlers scoreless in the top of the fourth. Kelsie Briggs faced just three batters and each one placed the ball in play, but TWU's defense held firm.
 
STMU scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning and four runs in the top of the sixth. The Pioneers were unable to extend the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, dropping the second game 8-0 in six innings.
 
Briggs (3-4) recorded two strikeouts in the game.
 
The Pioneers continue their LSC homestand on Friday, March 18. They will play a doubleheader against No. 1 University of Texas – Tyler at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.