Rebecca Garza powers Odem softball team past Mathis for 31-2A lead

April 02--MATHIS -- Odem more than made up Tuesday for its one-run loss to Mathis earlier this month.

The Owls capitalized on Pirates errors with timely hitting and efficient base running to seize a 12-5 win at Mathis High School, taking possession of first place in District 31-2A.

Rebecca Garza powered Odem (8-1 district) with four hits and four RBIs, falling a home run shy of hitting for the cycle.

"She's been in a little bit of a slump, so I'm glad she came through tonight and knocked the smack out of the ball," Odem coach Melissa Vela said of Garza, with a laugh.

Haley Hertzog struck out eight batters and surrendered two of four earned runs in the seventh inning, once the game was out of hand.

While four- and six-run innings are telling of the way the game unfolded for the Owls' bats, Hertzog's ability to get out of a jam in the bottom of the fourth, striking out three batters with two Mathis runners on base, went a long way in a game mostly dominated by offense.

"She's gotten out of a lot of tight jams throughout the year," Vela said of Hertzog's resiliency.

Hertzog helped her own cause almost from the get-go, driving in Breanna Martinez on a groundout in the top of the first to give Odem a 1-0 lead.

Amanda Perez lined a shot right into the glove of Mathis second baseman Claudia Encinia, who dropped it, awarding first base to Perez.

Chelsea Kemp then logged the first of her three infield singles, before Lycena Recio drove in two runs on a towering double to deep center field for a 3-0 Owls advantage.

Garza tacked on Odem's fourth run in the first to give Hertzog all the insurance she would need.

"I'm a pitcher who likes pressure, truthfully," Hertzog said of having an early cushion. "It makes me feel better, but I don't want to let my team down."

Hertzog also started Odem's six-run fifth, knocking a double to right field after Breanna Martinez had reached first on an error.

Hertzog didn't stop at second, however.

Pirates right fielder Justine Perez tried throwing out Martinez at third, but Annalisa Mendez could not field the throw cleanly, letting the ball zip into foul territory along the third-base line.

Martinez and Hertzog scored, then Recio drove in her third run. Garza one-upped her teammate, driving in two runs on a triple.

"We really came together and got our hits when we really needed them," Garza said.

By the end of the fifth, Odem was firmly in command with a 11-2 lead.

"Tension," Mathis coach Alexander Orosco said of his team's fielding woes. "Our girls were tense, as in the old adage, 'When you're scared of the ball, it's going to find you.' "

Pirates pitcher Caitlin Wilburn struck out eight and notched a pair of hits in the loss.

Mathis (7-2) didn't have trouble getting runners on base, as evidenced by 10 hits -- at least one in each frame -- but couldn't pounce on its opportunities like Odem did.

"They're a well-coached team," Orosco said of Odem. "They handle adversity, and they were the better team today."

ODEM 12, MATHIS 5

Odem 400 160 1 -- 12 13 2

Mathis 100 101 2 -- 5 10 3

W -- Haley Hertzog. L -- Caitlin Wilburn. 2B -- Odem, Lycena Recio, Hertzog; Mathis, Wilburn. 3B -- Odem, Rebecca Garza, Katie Pesak. Highlights -- Odem, Recio 3 RBIs, Garza 4-4, 4 RBIs, Chelsea Kemp 3-3, Hertzog 8 Ks; Mathis, Monique Alvarado 2 hits, RBI, Wilburn 2-4, 6 Ks.

Records -- Odem 8-1 district, Mathis 7-2

Twitter: @Caller_JR

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