Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4 TUCSON, AZ – Home runs by Kylie Alto and Taylor Mendez and a complete game win from Brieann Backes carried the University of Mary softball team to a split with the Academy of Art University on the final day of the Cactus Classic. The Marauders won the opener 3-2 before falling to the Knights 6-1.
 
Mendez provided Mary a quick one-run lead with a solo shot over the center field fence with two outs in the top of the first. It was the senior's third home run of the season and the 42^nd of her career.
 
Staying on the offensive, Alto cracked a two-run home run in the top of the second inning. After Hannah Holtz earned a one-out walk, the Marauders shortstop followed Mendez's path and drove the ball over the center field fence, forcing the Knights to make a pitching change. It was Alto's first homer of the season.
 
Pitching on a rainy, overcast day suited Backes perfectly. After posting shutout innings in the first and second, the sophomore was touched by a pair of runs in the third. After the Knights leadoff hitter doubled and the next batter was hit by a pitch, both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. A ground out to short scored the first run before a two-out single plated the second. Colleen Crutchfield ended the AAU threat and preserved the Marauders lead by throwing out a basrerunner attempting to steal second for the final out of the inning.
 
The Knights had opportunities but couldn't dent Backes. After loading the bases in the fourth, a one-out grounder to Alto allowed the sophomore to step on second before firing to first to complete the inning-ending double play.
 
Alto also played a role in a major out in the fifth. Gabbi Hirsch doubled to right center but Alto's relay throw from Rebekkah Keller to Mendez at third eliminated the threat.
 
Closing strong, Backes recorded three of her four strikeouts in the final two innings. She struck out the final batter of the sixth and the first two Knights hitters in the seventh. The last out was registered on a liner to Alto.
 
Both teams recorded five hits and no player had more than one.
 
Backes walked two and struck out four in the seven inning complete game, her first of the season.
 
In a reversal of fortunes, the Academy of Arts jumped out to the lead and played from in front the entire game. The Knights scored an unearned run in the second and tallied twice in both the fourth and fifth innings.
 
Mary got on the board in the fifth when a Mendez infield grounder scored Madison McGonigal, who reached on a walk before moving to third on an error.
 
The Knights closed the scoring with an unearned run in the seventh.
 
Mendez, Crutchfield, Holtz and Madison Jahner registered hits for Mary. Jahner also pitched 2.2 innings, striking out three while allowing no walks, two hits and an unearned run.
 
Hannah Rose Balke went the distance for AAU, allowing just four hits and no earned runs. Samantha Klune had two hits and drove in three runs and Taylor Ah Mook Sang collected two hits and two RBIs.
 
LATE SATURDAY:
The Marauders dropped a pair of games at the Cactus Classic on Saturday, 9-5 to #23 Dixie State and 13-3 to Lincoln Memorial.
 
Amber Gamboa led the Mary attack against Dixie State. The senior catcher was 3-for-3, hitting a 2-run home run. Crutchfield also had a home run for Mary. Both Marauders blasts came in the fourth inning to pull Mary within 6-5. Dixie State put the game away in the fifth with a 3-run outburst.
 
McGonigal and Alto both had two hits for Mary against DSU.
 
Statistics are not yet available for the Lincoln Memorial contest that ended after just five innings due to run rules.
 
The Marauders are 2-9 this season. Mary next competes at the Florida Invite on March 2-5.
 
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