Joel "Jewlz" Morris
Sports Editor
Taking a 2-0 series lead after scoring three runs in the sixth inning, the Texas A&M University-San Antonio softball team rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Our Lady of the Lake Saints on April 24.
Swinging her bat to right field, senior Tori Campos brings home fellow senior Ashlyn Weinart, who slid into home base to give the Jaguars a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning. The run held as the game-winner.
The back-to-back wins in the doubleheader not only gave the Jags control of the series but also marked a significant milestone for the program.
Breaking a historic streak over OLLU
The Jags had not defeated the Saints since May 6, 2023, and entered the series with a 2-21 all-time record against OLLU.
After sweeping the doubleheader, the Jags matched their previous all-time wins versus the Saints in a single day. Head Coach Nicole Dame credited a collective team effort, highlighted by the use of three different pinch hitters in the comeback win.
“I think it was a true testament that we were playing as a unit. We picked each other up,” Dame said. “Every hitter that we put in, made something happen. Hannah (Schultz) led off with a walk, Kalia (Flaherty) put the ball in play and kind of caused that error to advance those runners, and then Ash (Weinert) came up big for us to score.”
A playoff boost
Ahead of the game, Dame told her team that “all the pressure is on them,” referring to OLLU’s pursuit to win a regular-season conference championship.
While the Jags were not dealing with those same stakes, the wins provided a boost in the National Association Intercollegiate Athletics Ratings Percentage Index.
With the NAIA’s shift to an RPI system that favors wins over quality opponents, defeating the No. 9- ranked team in the country could strengthen the Jags’ case for an at-large playoffs bid.
“I think we put ourselves in a really good spot to be contenders for an at-large bid with two wins today,” Dame said.
A step in the right direction
From breaking a losing streak against a local conference rival to beating a ranked opponent, Dame said the program is making steady progress, crediting leadership support.
“A true testament to our leaders in our athletic department,” Dame said. “It really shows how invested our admin is in making this the best possible department in the city.”
With a 2-0 series lead over OLLU, the Jags will look to complete the sweep at noon, on April 25 at the Jaguars’ home field.
