KINGSVILLE – The Texas A&M Kingsville Javelinas won two extra inning pitcher’s duels Saturday during day one of the Javelina Softball Classic.

   A&M-Kingsville defeated the St. Edward’s Hilltoppers 2-1 in eight innings in game one and followed that up with a 3-2 victory over the Midwestern State Mustangs in another eight-inning game.

            Both Natalie Jones and Nora Aguilar pitched complete games for A&M-Kingsville.

            The Javelinas record now stands at 12-5.

            In game one, Jones picked up the win to improve her record to 6-2. She allowed four hits, a run, recorded three strikeouts and walked one.

            Jennifer Bishop took the loss for St. Edwards. She pitched seven innings giving up six hits and two runs. She also recorded a pair of strikeouts and walks each.

            St. Edward’s took the lead in the top of the eighth inning when Julia Alaniz, placed on second due to international tiebreaker rules, scored on a fielder’s choice.

            A&M-Kingsville tied the game at 1-1 when Cassie Anderson, who also started the inning placed on second, took third on a wild pitch and scored on an error. Joanna Dorado scored the winning run on an error on a Julia Canales fly ball to right field.

            The loss dropped the Hilltopper’s record to 8-9.

            The Javelinas had to come from behind again in game two to win.

            Nora Aguilar gave up five hits and two runs with five strikeouts and five walks. Her record now stands at 5-3.

            Katie Petersen also pitched a complete game for MSU. She allowed six hits and three runs. She also recorded eight strikeouts and three walks with her record going to 6-5.

            The Mustangs loaded the bases in the first and again in the third, but only got one run off those situations when Tara Staten hit a fly ball that plated Jessica Rodiguez in the top of the third.

            A&M-Kingsville threatened in the bottom of the inning loading the bases with one out but were unable to do any damage.

            MSU put the lead up to 2-0 in the fifth when Lindsey Voight singled home Maranda Bishop.

            The Javelinas tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Dorado hit a double and Quesha Torres hit a two-out two-run home run to tie the game.

            The game remained tied until the bottom of the eight. Again, it was a Canales at-bat that won it for the Javelinas as she singled home Margret Monsivias for the winning run.

            The Mustang’s record dropped to 11-5 as a result of the loss.

            The Javelinas play again tomorrow at noon against the Midwestern State Mustangs and at 4 p.m. against the St. Edward’s Hilltoppers.