San Antonio -- Freshman Jessika Cantu (Tuloso-Midway), pitching in her first game since junior high, earned a victory in her first collegiate start as the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelina softball beat Texas Woman's University 4-3 to split their first two games of the season at the Division II Softball Classic hosted by St. Mary's.

   Cantu, who was an all-star shortstop in high school, went 4 1/3 innings giving up three runs on six hits, to earn the win.  Courtney Rigamonti (Victoria St. Joseph's) came on and gave up only one hit over the final 2 2/3 innings to earn the save.

   Newcomer Jasmine Ross went 2-for-3 in the nightcap and drove in a run to lead the Javelina offense.  A&M-Kingsville scored three runs in the first to stake Cantu to an early cushion.  The Javelinas had six steals against TWU.

   Rigamonti pitched well in the opener, allowing just five hits and one earned run in pitching a complete game, but the Javelina defense let her down in a 4-2 loss to Southeastern Oklahoma earlier in the day.

   Another newcomer, Meisha Patterson (Dumas), went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored against Southeastern.

   "We were a bit nervous in that first game," said new Javelina head coach Blake Miller.  "That first inning really helped Jessika.  She just threw the ball well and didn't worry about here first college start.  Courtney came in and just threw strikes.  They threw well together today."

   The Javelinas will face Central Oklahoma and Incarnate Word Saturday in day two of the tournament.