Box Score SAN ANTONIO (April 23, 2018) – In the tightly packed Heartland Conference softball standings, one game can mean a lot, and such was the Oklahoma Christian-St. Mary's (Texas) matchup on Monday.

St. Mary's, which had lost nine of its previous 11 games, held on for a 2-1 decision over the Lady Eagles to salvage one game of a three-game series and take the overall season series between the teams by a three-games-to-two count.

St. Mary's (30-21, 16-9 Heartland) moved back atop the Heartland standings, while OC (27-23, 16-11) fell a spot into a tie for fourth place. OC's path to a potential regular-season title, which would have been neat and tidy had it won Monday, now will be difficult. The Lady Eagles would have to sweep a three-game series from Rogers State (33-15, 14-9) at home on Friday and Saturday and hope the results of other series in the league fall just right.

OC is guaranteed a spot in the five-team Heartland postseason tournament, but would like to avoid finishing fourth or fifth in the regular season, as those teams will face an extra game in the league tournament, which will be hosted by the regular-season champion.

OC pitchers Kaylie Upton (12-5) and Madison Hagood combined to allow only four hits. St. Mary's picked up a quick run in the first inning, as Hannah Michel doubled to lead off, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Raynelle Nash.

The Lady Eagles stranded two baserunners each in the first, third and fourth innings. The Rattlers went to pitcher Hope Russell (12-7) in the fourth, who escaped a two-on, no-out jam by retiring the next three batters.

The Rattlers went up 2-0 in the fifth, as a two-out error allowed Alessandra Ortiz (who led off with a single) to score. Bridget White hit a solo home run down the left-field line to lead off the sixth for OC, and Kirsten Scott was hit with a pitch and went to third base on a two-out error, but Russell again escaped. Russell retired the Lady Eagles in order in the seventh.