SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team got back to their winning ways on Tuesday night when they swept a pair of games at University of the Incarnate Word, 6-4 and 5-3 at Cardinal Field. (Game 1, Game 2)
In the first game, the Cardinals (6-9) jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead as Alex Carraman and Lea Padilla each hit two-run homers. Padilla also did a good job pitching holding the Javelinas (10-2) to just one hit through four innings.
The Javelinas finally scored in the fifth inning when Cassie Anderson (Splendora/Splendora HS) drove in Ariel Lichtenberger (Alice/Alice HS) with a two out single, but that was all the team could manage. In the sixth inning, the Javs loaded the bases with one out only to see the Cards turn a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Javelinas broke through with five runs. The team loaded the bases again with one out, but this time Meisha Patterson (Dumas/Dumas HS) came through with a bases clearing triple to tie the game. Patterson came in to score on Courtney Rigamonti’s (Victoria/St. Joseph HS) single to give the Hoggies the lead.
After allowing the two home runs to the Cards in the first inning, Javelina starting pitcher Rigamonti scattered four hits the rest of the way and did not allow a runner past first base to earn her eighth win of the season. She allowed seven hits, four runs and no walks while striking out four batters. Anderson, Rigamonti and freshman Christine Brumley (Waller/Waller HS) each had two hits for the team.
Padilla was tagged with the loss for the Cardinals as she pitched 6.1 innings allowing eight hits, five runs and four walks while striking out two batters.
In the second game, the Javelinas jumped out to the early lead and held on for the victory. Patterson hit a leadoff home run in the top of the second inning to get the team on the board. Anderson would put two more runs across the board with her two-out single giving the Hoggies a 3-0 lead. The team added to their lead in the top of the third inning when Lichtenberger’s two-out triple scored two runs.
The Cardinals scored single runs in the second, third and fifth innings. Serena Smitham drove in a run with a double in the second, Ashley Hinojosa picked up an RBI single in the third and a solo homer in the fifth.
Javelina freshman pitcher Jessica Schneider (Flatonia/Schulenburg HS) picked up her second win of the season going 4.0 innings allowing eight hits, three runs and two walks. Rigamonti pitched in relief on two separate occasions. The first time she retired three batters in the third inning and then she came in to finish the game in the sixth. She worked 3.0 innings in all allowing two hits, no runs and one walk while striking out four to earn her second save of the year.
The Javelina offense rapped out nine hits with Patterson leading the way with a 3-for-4 performance. Anderson and Jasmine Ross (Camilla, GA/Darton College) each had two hits in the game.
The Cardinals had 10 hits in the game with Hinojosa, Padilla and Jordan Mattison each collecting two hits apiece. JudyAnn Gonzales was handed the loss after she lasted just 1.2 innings allowing four hits and three runs.
The Javelinas are back in action this weekend when they travel to Henderson State for a tournament. They open with Drury at noon on Friday.
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