MELBOURNE, Florida – The Angelo State softball team improved to 4-0 on the season after defeating Nova Southeastern 8-4 and taking down No. 3 Armstrong State 4-1 on day two of the Florida Tech Marriott First Pitch Classic.
The Rambelles (4-0) held opponents to five runs on seven hits while scoring 12 runs on 20 hits in the two games. It is the first win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 9 St. Mary's at the South Central Regional tournament last season and first win over a top five team since beating then No. 1 West Texas A&M 1-0 in 2015.
"It was two really good wins today," Angelo State head softball coach Travis Scott said. "We hit the ball really well. Katlyn Herzog and Bailey Wallace each got big hits for us. We have continued to swing it. We have six home runs through four games and we are playing really good defense. Pitchers are throwing exceptional. We have to be ready for Florida Tech to face their ace tomorrow. We want to finish the tournament 5-0."
After defeating Nova Southeastern 8-4 earlier in the day, Angelo State faced No. 3 Armstrong State. The Rambelles sent Brandy Marlett to the circle one day after throwing her third no-hitter.
Marlett held Armstrong State at bay throughout the game. She allowed one hit through the first six innings and retired 13 straight at one point.
The game was a pitching duel as ASU was unable to get a run across. The Rambelles threatened twice in the fourth and fifth with a runner at third but were unable to score.
The momentum shifted in the bottom of the sixth inning. Alexis Evans drew a walk and Courtney Barnhill followed it with a single to advance Evans to third. A fielder's choice by Taegan Kirk loaded the bases with only one out. A passed ball put ASU on the board.
Up 1-0, Danae Bina laid down a squeeze bunt that brought Barnhill in to score. Katlyn Herzog pinch hit and tripled to right field to put the Rambelles up 4-0 going into the top of the 7th.
Armstrong State ended Marlett's scoreless inning streak at 13 with a solo home run. It was just the second hit of the game that Marlett and it would be the last. The junior picked up strikeout No. 10 and got a liner to first base to end the game. She moves to 2-0 on the season and only allowed one walk the entire game.
"Armstrong is a team that can really play," Scott said. "They can swing it and can really throw it. We had a couple of chances and they made plays. We finally broke through in the sixth. It was a big win. Katlyn again with a big hit with the triple off the bench. That was a national tournament team and we beat them 4-1. I think that is where we are. I feel we are a top 10 team in a country and we are playing that way."
In the first game of the day, ASU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in a big way. Bailey Wallace hit her first home run of her career to left center in the top of the first. Alexis Evans added her first home run of the season two batters later to put the Rambelles up 2-0.
Morgan Hill started her first game in the circle and held Nova Southeastern hitless through the first three innings.
A double by Barnhill scored Wallace to make it 3-0 in the third. Wallace hit a RBI single in the top of the fourth and later scored on a single up the middle by Barnhill for a 5-0 advantage.
Nova plated two runs in the fourth and fifth to make it 5-4 going into the sixth. Kenedy Urbany came in relief in the sixth and didn't allow a run.
The Rambelles added insurance runs in the top of the seventh. With two on and one out, Herzog stepped to the plate. The senior homered deep to center field to score three runs and increase the lead to 8-4.
Urbany sat down Nova Southeastern in order to earn her first save of the season. The senior struck out three in 2.0 innings of work. Hill picked up her first win of the season pitching 5.0 innings allowing four runs on five hits. The junior also struck out five in the win.
"In game one we jumped out early as Bailey Wallace and Alexis Evans each hit home runs," Scott said. "Morgan Hill was in control over the first three innings. Nova Southeastern scratched some runs and Kenedy Urbany came in the sixth and seventh and was perfect. She threw it really well. It was good for Morgan to get the win and Kenedy to come in and get the save."
The Rambelles will face Florida Tech to close out the tournament on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 1 p.m. CST.
