KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team may not make things easy on the field, but they have scratched and clawed their way to the best start in school history after knocking off visiting St. Mary’s University on Tuesday night, 5-4 and 10-6 at Hubert Field. The team is 6-0 for the first time in the program’s history. (Game 1, Game 2)
In the first game, the Javelinas (6-0) fell behind in what has become their usual manner. The Rattlers (2-5) used a pair of walks, a double steal and a two-out error to plate four runs in the top of the second inning. Kelly Baker capped the inning with a two-out run-scoring single.
The Javelinas put one run on the board in the bottom half of the second inning. Ariel Lichtenberger (Alice/Alice HS) doubled with two outs and came around to score on Kaycee Bryan’s (Splendora/Splendora HS) infield single.
After that outburst, neither team was able to score. The Rattlers threatened in the fifth inning when they put runners on second and third, but couldn’t get the key hit. The Hoggies struggled to figure out the pitching of Arlynda Flores and the game went to the bottom of the seventh with the Rattlers still on top, 4-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jasmine Ross (Camilla, GA/Darton College) got the Hoggies started with a single. Cassie Anderson (Splendora/Splendora HS) quickly followed with two more singles to load the bases with no outs. Flores began to get rattled a hit the next batter forcing in a run. Then, Melissa St. Clair (Garden City, KS/Seward County) came through with a two-run single up the middle to tie the game. She advanced to second on the throw home and the Javs had runners on second and third with no outs.
The Rattlers went to the bullpen and brought in Taryn Munoz who walked the first batter to load the bases. Kingsville senior shortstop Meisha Patterson (Dumas/Dumas HS) ended the game when her fly ball to left field scored Yvette Berlanga (San Antonio/O’Connor HS) with the winning run.
The Rattlers pounded out nine hits in the game with Michelle Soto going 3-for-4 with a double. Heather Monroe added two hits in three at bats. Flores took the loss going 6.0 innings while allowing eight hits, five runs and four walks. She struck out two batters and had two stolen bases as a batter.
The Javelinas had eight hits in the game with Bryan leading the way with two safeties. Courtney Rigamonti (Victoria/St. Joseph HS) earned the victory on the mound pitching a complete game allowing nine hits, one earned run and four walks while striking out four.
In the second game, the Rattlers jumped out in front in the first inning. Soto drove in the first run of the game with a single. She came around to score when Flores drew a bases loaded walk with two outs.
The Rattlers held a 2-0 lead until the third inning. Bryan singled and stole second base for the Hoggies. She scored on Rigamonti’s two out single to left field.
The Javelinas took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Anderson came through with a clutch two-run triple that plated Lichtenberger and Ross.
The Rattlers came back in the top of the sixth inning. Monroe singled and advanced to third base on an error. She would score on a wild pitch to tie the game. With two outs, the Rattlers put together a rally that began with a single by Sade Moore and a walk by Lia Provence. Kelly Baker put the team on top with a two-run double to make the score 5-3.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Javelinas put together a momentous comeback. The team loaded the bases thanks to a pair of Rattler errors and a bunt single by Jessica Clayburg (New Caney/New Caney HS). Anderson laced a single to make the score 5-4, but the potential tying-run was thrown out at the plate. After a walk to Bryan, Berlanga came through with the game-tying single. A strike out left the bases loaded with two outs. Patterson crushed a double to left center to clear the bases and give her a second game-winning RBI in the same double header. Three more singles and two more runs followed Patterson’s double to make it a 10-5 ballgame.
The Rattlers managed to score one more run in the seventh inning, but it was not enough. Baker finished the game 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBI’s and two doubles. Provence walked three times and scored twice. They rapped out 11 hits as a team. Soto took the loss in relief despite not allowing an earned run. Unfortunately, she did allow seven unearned runs.
The Javelinas pounded out 15 hits with Anderson, Bryan, Rigamonti, Patterson, Lichtenberger and Clayburg each getting two hits. Anderson and Patterson each finished with three RBI’s. Bryan and Lichtenberger each scored twice while Bryan also had two stolen bases. Jessica Schneider (Flatonia/Sschulenburg HS) started the game in the circle pitching 4.0 innings allowing six hits, two runs and three walks while striking out one. Rigamonti pitched the final three innings in relief to earn her fifth victory of the season.
The Javelinas are back in action this weekend when they travel to Denton, Texas for a two-day tournament hosted by Texas Woman’s University on Friday and Saturday.
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