The Lady Owls delivered an impressive 11-1 victory in five innings over the Lady Warriors on Friday evening at the Texas A&M University-Kingsville softball field to take a 1-0 series lead.
The Lady Warriors were held to just a single hit as the Lady Owls’ junior ace Mia Auster threw six strikeouts, walked three and held Santa Rosa to just one run.
“From the very first play I could tell we were nervous,” said Santa Rosa head coach Erica Molina. “I already knew Odem had good pitchers and good hitters, and I think we were just intimidated by her. We’re not going to do much with no hits and seven errors.
“I told the girls, it’s not over, come out fighting tomorrow and lets compete. That’s all I can ask.”
Game 2 of the best-of-3 series starts at 2 p.m. today. Game 3, if the Lady Warriors can force it, will follow 30 minutes afterward.
After Odem jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, things went from bad to worse for the Lady Warriors as errors began to pile up.
With one out in the top of the second and the Lady Owls up 4-0, Santa Rosa had an opportunity to close the inning after sophomore catcher Mariah Contreras caught a charging Lady Owl runner out at home and immediately threw to third to complete the inning-ending double play.
However, Santa Rosa’s third baseman was unable to hold on to the ball, allowing the runner to score. The Lady Owls put up three more runs before the Lady Warriors were able to close the inning down 7-1.
The lone run by the Lady Warriors was scored in the bottom of the second inning after an error on a fielder’s choice allowed Contreras to come home from third.
In the top of the third, the Lady Owls went back to work and added four additional runs, stretching the lead to 11-1.
In the circle for the Lady Warriors was junior ace Raeven Robles, who took the loss, allowing eight hits with one strikeout. She was relived in the top of the fifth by her sister Jazzy Robles, who immediately retired the side.