San Marcos can’t overcome first inning, suffers home loss to New Braunfels

San Marcos head coach Cathy Stoughton said she hasn’t had many teams that are as resilient as this season’s squad.

That was seen Tuesday night, as the Lady Rattlers outscored New Braunfels inside the San Marcos softball stadium during the final 6.5 innings. But a five-run opening frame helped the Lady Unicorns remain in front all game, as the visitors defeated the hosts, 8-4.

“I think sometimes, we come out and they don’t have the confidence that they should,” Stoughton said. “We had a couple of rough games. To open district, we had a really rough game (against East Central) and I think that really took the wind out of our sails. It was a really tough loss. And then to be with Judson, 1-1, and then to have that one bad inning, it seems like, from there, we’ve kind of got into a little bit of a tailspin confidence-wise.”

New Braunfels picked up another run in the top of the second, but the Lady Rattlers got on the board after that. Julissa Venegas led the team off with a double and was followed by Gracie Martinez with a single. Bitsy Silva earned the RBI two at-bats later with a sac fly to center field, giving San Marcos its first run of the game.

The hosts continued to hit well, reaching home plate again in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. But the Lady Unicorns held their own, adding two more scores to make it a four-point lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.

“(My players) can beat anybody,” Stoughton said. “They can play with these teams, they can beat these teams. They just have to have faith in each other and be confident and believe and give themselves a little more credit for their ability and what they’re capable of doing. They are a very resilient group of girls. They never quit, I love that about them.”

Andrea Garcia used a bunt to reach first base to begin the frame and advanced to second after Venegas singled in the next at-bat. Gracie Martinez was walked and San Marcos loaded the bases with just one out.

But the Lady Rattlers struck out in the next two trips to the plate, securing the 8-4 win for New Braunfels.

Venegas went 2-3 on the night with one walk and also pitched 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Martinez had an identical stat line at the plate.

San Marcos (8-10, 0-5 26-6-A) will travel to play Smithson Valley on the road Friday at 7 p.m. Stoughton said she knows her team is capable of winning more games. She just needs her players to believe it.

“We’ll be OK,” Stoughton said. “I think it’s just gonna take one win to get us over the hump. You know, when you feel like you’re climbing an endless staircase, you’ve got to reach the top sometime. And we’ll get there.

“I applaud them for fighting. There are a lot of teams that would have thrown in the towel in situations we’ve been in … It’s just going to take that one to get us over the hump. And I’m hoping that’s Friday at Smithson Valley.”