How did your weekend go?
Chances are it was not as good as the one experienced by the 13th-ranked Cardinal softball team. Coach Maria Winn-Ratliff's squad dominated Trinidad State and San Jacinto in a pair of doubleheaders at Athens High School's Peg Cain Field, posting a 4-0 mark to improve to 6-0 on the year.
Three of the four games ended via the run rule in five innings. Throw in the first perfect pitching performance in program history and a 6-RBI performance and, well, the Cardinals win the weekend.
Saturday, the Cardinals defeated Trinidad State 8-0 and were a 15-2 winner against San Jacinto. Sunday, they took care of Trinidad State in 9-1 fashion and recorded a 7-0 win against San Jacinto. The San Jacinto game is the only game of the four going the distance at seven innings.
The Cardinals are scheduled for their first road trip today, going to Ranger for a doubleheader at 1 p.m.
The next home doubleheader is scheduled Friday against Blinn. Action at Drumgoole Field at Cain Park is set to start at 2 p.m.
Here's a recap of the four games:
SATURDAY
Cardinals 8, Trinidad State 0
(5 innings)
Miranda Pena etched her name in the Cardinal record book with a five-inning perfect game in the circle. The Humble sophomore did not allow a hit in facing the minimum number of 15 batters. Serna struck out six in a 63-pitch performance.
While Pena had things under control in the circle, so too did Kiara Wiedenhaupt at the plate. The Spring sophomore blasted home runs in the first, second and fifth innings and drove in six runs.
Madison Bailey also had multiple hits for the Cardinals, going 2-for-2.
Cardinals 15, San Jacinto 2
(5 innings)
A nine-run fourth inning assure the Cardinals of continuing their winning ways in the second game.
The Cardinals had 12 hits, led by Mariah DeBose, Kirsten Wilkinson and Molly Gilbert with two each.
Dominique Vargas went four innings in the circle to pick up the win. She struck out three and surrendered two hits.
SUNDAY
Cardinals 9, Trinidad State 1
(5 innings)
The Cardinals used a 14-hit attack to turn back Trinidad State in Sunday's first game.
Jace McQueen went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI to pace the Cardinals at the plate.
Addison Wittram and DeBose also had a pair of hits each and both driving in two runs. Jaeden Burnham also had two hits.
Vargas was again the winner in the circle. She worked 4.1 innings, giving up four hits and striking out six.
Cardinals 7, San Jacinto 0
The Cardinals scored four runs in the fourth inning to fuel the win against San Jacinto.
Wiedenhaupt led a nine-hit plate effort with two hits, including a double.
Sydney Murphy went 1-fo-4 at the plate but drove in three runs.
Pena went the distance in the circle, striking out five and yielding six hits.
