Payne’s grand slam fuels 8-4 CU softball win

Cameron used the long ball to rally for an 8-4 softball victory over St. Mary’s Tuesday afternoon but the Aggies were unable to get the same type of offensive fireworks in the second game of the doubleheader and fell by a 3-1 score.

The two teams will play the rubber match today at 1 p.m. at the McMahon Softball Field.

In the first game the Aggies spotted the Texas crew a solo run in the top of the fourth inning but that was easily overcome as CU scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth to take command. Madysen Boutwell got the rally going with a two-run homer that came after a Kaiden Boren walk proceeded the Boutwell homer.

Then came the big blow as Presleigh Payne came to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded and she clobbered a shot to deep center for the grand slam that put the Aggies ahead for good.

The visitors added a couple of runs in the top half of the sixth inning but Cameron responded with a solo home run by Kyndel McDaniel and an RBI double from Taylor Rowley.

Jocelyn Bright got the pitching win for the Aggies, working the first five innings, scattering nine hits and giving up four runs, three of which were earned. She walked one and fanned seven.

Tinley Schmidgall worked a 1 2/3 innings and allowing one hit. She did get into trouble with four walks but Stormee Reed came on to get the final out for the save.

Kelsey Creech had a pair of hits but it was Payne’s big grand slam that pushed the Aggies over the hump.

In the second game the Aggies gave up single runs to the Rattlers in the first, third and sixth innings to salvage the split. Cameron got its lone run in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit in half but the Aggies only mustered one hit in that game as Megan Bloom went the distance for the Rattlers, allowing just one hit while walking just one.

Reed started and got the pitching loss in the second game, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. She walked four.