McMurry University softball split a series Saturday, Feb. 24 with Trinity University in San Antonio, winning 11-8 and losing 5-4.
In the first game, coach David McNally's team quickly pounced on the opponent with five runs in the first inning. It added five more in the fourth and one in the fifth. Sophomore third baseman Miranda Soileau (Houston, Texas), in the first inning, started the offense by singling through the left side for an RBI that sent sophomore shortstop Morgan Faubion (Crosby, Texas) to third and junior second baseman Jade Dickens (Friendswood, Texas) home. Junior center fielder Mercedes Camacho (El Paso, Texas) reached on a fielder's choice for an RBI which allowed Soileau to go to second and Faubion to cross home plate. Still in the first, junior right fielder Aliyah Tanguma (Kyle, Texas) grounded out to first base for an RBI that sent sophomore first baseman Trista Brown (Crosby, Texas) to second, Camacho to third and Soileau home. Senior designated player Kate Casey (Thorndale, Texas) then singled to left center for a 2 RBI that allowed junior catcher/pitcher Maya Mongelli (Lubbock, Texas) to go to second, and Brown and Camacho to score. In the fourth, Faubion singled to left field for a 2 RBI which sent Dickens to second and senior left fielder Angelica Abila (Lubbock, Texas) and Casey home. Camacho then walked for an RBI that sent Soileau to second, Faubion to third and Dickens across home plate. Also in the fourth, Brown singled to left field for an RBI, Camacho advanced to second, Soileau went to third and Faubion scored. Freshman first baseman/designated player Reaghan Staehely (Mission, Texas) walked for an RBI, Brown went to second, Camacho advanced to third and Soileau scored. In the fifth, Soileau reached on a fielder's choice for an RBI, Dickens moved to third and Abila scored. McMurry got 10 hits with contributions from Abila, Dickens (3), Faubion (2), Soileau, Brown, Mongelli and Casey.
Fifth-year senior Jenna Lewis (Hearne, Texas) threw 1.2 innings, junior Baylee Fulps (San Angelo, Texas) threw 2.1 innings, striking out one batter, and Mongelli threw three innings to get her first win of the season.
In the second game, the opponent scored once in the first and McMurry responded with two in the second, both teams scored once in the fourth, McMurry scored one more in the fifth and the opponent got three runs in the seventh. Junior right fielder Tristyn Barton (Belton, Texas), in the second inning, reached on a throwing error by the pitcher, freshman designated player Sophia Fuller (Eagle River, Alaska) went to second and then third on an error while Camacho advanced to third and then home on the error. Freshman third baseman Elaina Herrera (Belton, Texas) reached on a fielder's choice for an RBI that allowed Fuller to score. In the fourth, freshman second baseman Kaelyn Rodriguez (Helotes, Texas) singled to right field and got to second on an error by the right fielder, and Abila scored on the error. In the fifth, Barton hit a home run. McMurry got four hits with contributions from Abila, Rodriguez, freshman shortstop Samantha Gonzales (Hamlin, Texas) and Barton.
Freshman pitcher Emmalee Gebhart (Vail, Arizona), who was given the loss, threw 6.2 innings and struck out two.
McMurry, 5-1, plays next at University of Texas-Dallas in Richardson with games at 3 and 5 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.
