CONROE, Texas — The Saint Martin's Softball team stunned the top-ranked team in the nation on opening day, defeating No. 1 UT-Tyler 9-5 in Conroe, Texas on Friday, January 30.
The Saints defeated Chadron State 9-1 earlier in the day, capping off an impressive 2-0 start to the season at the First Pitch Invitational.
Game 1: Saint Martins 9, Chadron State 1
- After a three-up, three-down inning by Bridget Johnson in the top of the first, the Saints started off the season with a bang, as Haley Agena hit a solo home in the first at-bat of the season for Saint Martin's. The Saints added an RBI-double by Kaylee Walker to go up 2-0 after the first.
- After a perfect first two innings from Johnson, Chadron State scored its first run with a solo home run in the top of the third. The Saints responded with a massive four-run third inning, which saw two-run home runs by Shelby Lawson and Taylor Orgeles, giving the Saints a 6-1 lead.
- In the fifth inning, the Saints added three more runs to secure a 9-1 five-inning victory. Taylor Orgeles and Jules Detrinidad tallied RBI hits, before Shelby Lawson was hit by a pitch with bases loaded to secure the winning run.
Top Performers
- Bridget Johnson earned the win in the pitcher's circle, throwing 4.0 innings and striking out three batters. She allowed three hits and one run.
- Taylor Orgeles went 2-3 with three RBIs and one run.
- Shelby Lawson went 1-2 and tallied three RBIs and two runs.
Game 2: Saint Martin's 9, #1 UT-Tyler 5
- Just like in game one, Haley Agena hit a solo home run on the first at-bat for Saint Martin's, giving the Saints a 1-0 lead.
- Kayla Vaughan pitched a hitless first two innings and scoreless first three innings for the Saints, as Saint Martin's added two runs in each of the third and fourth innings — Saint Martin's did so off a two-RBI triple by Taylor Orgeles and RBI hits from Alyssa Umemoto and Haley Agena to take a 5-0 lead over the two-time defending champions.
- UT-Tyler got on the board in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff solo home run. The Patriots saw an additional hit and two walks, but escaped the inning without any further damage as Amanda Peterson pitched a fielder's choice to end the fourth.
- The Saints added a run in the top of the fifth, an RBI single from Layla Royle.
- After two groundouts forced by Amanda Peterson to start the bottom of the fifth, the Patriots cut the Saints' lead to 6-2 with a solo home run to left field.
- In the top of the sixth, a single by Alyssa Umemoto was followed by an RBI triple from Elissa Dewees to put the Saints up 7-2.
- The Patriots pushed to within 7-4 in the bottom of the sixth, capitalizing off two RBI doubles.
- In the top of the seventh, the Saints loaded the bases with two outs — Kendalyn Cordeiro-Felise hit a two-RBI double to give the Saints a 9-4 lead.
- Amanda Peterson pitched into the bottom of the seventh, forcing two ground outs to start the inning, bringing the game down to the final out. With the game on the line, the Patriots hit a solo home run to trim the Saints' lead to 9-5.
- UT-Tyler hit a double on the following at-bat, before Peterson forced a line out to shortstop that sealed the historic win for Saint Martin's.
Top Performers
Game Note
Across UT-Tyler's 62-5 championship season in 2025, the Patriots allowed seven or more runs just twice, and five or more runs just four times.
Up Next
The Saints will remain in Conroe, Texas for two games tomorrow and one on Sunday.
