SAN ANTONIO, Texas (April 20, 2023) – Texas Woman's (23-26, 15-23) softball split a double-header with St. Mary's (30-21, 20-18) Thursday afternoon.
 
The Pioneers squared off against the Rattlers in game one taking the lead 6-0 in the fifth inning. In the sixth inning, the Rattlers shelled out four runs, shrinking the gap for the Pioneers to win by two, 6-4.
 
To start off game one, the Pioneers took the lead in the top of the first inning after an RBI single from Avery Boley advanced Tylar Lane to third and brought Kennedy Marlow in to score, giving the Pioneers the 1-0 lead.
 
Neither team would score another run until the fifth inning, when Avery Boley recorded her second RBI of the afternoon in a single to right center for Alyssa LeBlanc to score.
 
Kristin Rodriguez took first as a pinch runner for Avery Boley and proceeded to steal second almost instantly. Then, the Rattlers walked Hannah Schnettler to first and shortly after regretted their decision, as both Pioneers advanced to steal second and third.
 
The Rattlers continued to give up bases to the Pioneers and put Delaney Boley on first, loading the bases. Kristin Rodriguez scored off the Rattlers third walk in the fifth inning with Missy Wise on first to record the RBI.
 
 A pitching change was made for the Rattlers, but it wouldn't undo the damage that had already been done. Up to bat for the Pioneers was Cristyna Del Hierro. With a 3-2 count, the Rattlers walked Del Hierro, giving her an RBI and allowing Schnettler to score to increase the Pioneers advantage, 4-0.
 
Marlow singled to shortstop bringing home Delaney Boley and Alexys Ginegaw to extend the Pioneers score to 6-0.
 
In the fifth inning, the Rattlers made a last-ditch effort to take game one from the Pioneers but would not succeed. The Rattlers tightened the six-point gap to two points, ending game one 6-4.
 
The Pioneers opened game one with LeBlanc (16-11) in the circle. LeBlanc threw 144 pitches in a full seven inning game and registered seven strikeouts and two walks.
 
Game two followed, and the Rattlers led the first inning with an inside the park homerun. Inning after inning, the Pioneers kept swinging as the Rattlers held TWU to only three hits.
 
The Rattlers then scored a single run in the third inning, followed by two runs in the fourth and a two-run homerun to close game two.
 
Janyssa Ramos (2-9) threw for six innings in game two and recorded one strikeout and allowed two walks. Ramos totaled 108 pitches this afternoon for a season high.
 
As a team, the Pioneers tallied 39 putouts, with Avery Boley leading the charge in game two with nine putouts, followed by Delaney Boley in game one with eight.  
 
The Pioneers will continue their battle against the Rattlers, Friday, April 21 at 11 a.m. to cap the Lone Star Conference series.