HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team split a pair of games on Friday at the Henderson State Tournament.  The Javelinas (11-3) won their first game of the day, 4-3 over Drury in eight innings.  They lost their second game to the host, 4-0. (Game 1, Game 2)

In the first game, the Javelinas fell behind early to the Panthers, 2-0.  Tori Whitehead drove in a run in the second inning for Drury and later scored on an error.

The Javelinas left six runners on base through the first three innings, but were unable to score.  In the fourth inning, they finally broke through.  The Hoggies put their first two runners on base and then freshman Christine Brumley (Waller/Waller HS) hit a three-run homer to give the team a 3-2 lead.  The Panthers tied the game again in the top of the fifth inning and the two teams went to extra innings.

Javelina senior pitcher Courtney Rigamonti (Victoria/St. Joseph HS) held the Panthers scoreless in the top of the eighth inning.  In the bottom half of the inning, the Hoggies loaded the bases with no outs and then freshman Kaycee Bryan (Splendora/Splendora HS) singled to win the game.  It was the fifth time this year that the Javelinas won the game in their last at bat.

The Javelinas pounded out 11 hits in the game with Shaun Bryan (Splendora/Splendora HS), Kaycee Bryan and Melissa St. Clair (Garden City, KS/Seward County JC) each having two hits.  Rigamonti picked up her ninth win of the season allowing three hits, three runs and four walks while striking out five batters.

In the second game, the Javelinas committed two errors in the first inning that led to three unearned runs for HSU.  The Reddies added another run in the fourth inning when Samantha Wolfe hit a solo home run.  That would be all the runs the Reddies would need to get the victory.

Melissa Decker pitched a complete game shutout to pick up the victory for HSU.  She allowed four hits and no walks while striking out six batters.  For the Javelinas, freshman Cassandra Hernandez (Harlingen/El Paso CC) pitched 2.1 innings of shutout ball in her first career appearance.  She allowed just one hit while striking out three batters.

The Javelinas play Northeastern State at nine in the morning on Saturday to close out pool play in the tournament.
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