KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – The visiting #23 West Texas A&M softball team took a pair of tight ball games on Friday afternoon at Hubert Field against Texas A&M-Kingsville, 5-4 and 5-2 in Lone Star Conference South Division play. (Game 1, Game 2)

In the opener, Meghan Slattery capped a four-run second inning for the Lady Buffs (29-11, 6-5) with a two-run double.  Katelyn Witte doubled and scored in the third inning to give the team a 5-0 lead.

The Javelinas (22-21, 3-8) fought back late in the game.  In the bottom of the sixth inning, the team loaded the bases with two outs.  Yvette Berlanga (San Antonio/O’Connor HS) smoked a drive down the left field line to drive in two runs.  Then, Taylor Munguia (Houston/Cy-Ridge HS) singled up the middle to make it a 5-3 game.

In the seventh inning, the Javs put the first two runners of the inning on base before the next two batters struck out.  A pair of illegal pitches made it 5-4, but that was as close as the Hoggies could get.

Marci Womack picked up the win to improve to 14-5 on the season.  She allowed seven hits and three earned run while striking out five in 6.1 innings of work.  Whitney Midkiff led the offense with two outs and a run scored.

Amanda Arriaga (Kingsville/H.M. King HS) pitched the entire game, but was handed the loss.  She allowed seven hits and struck out four.  Berlanga led the offense with two hits.

In the second game, Kim LeComte broke open a 1-0 West Texas lead when she cracked a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning.  The Javelinas got on the board in the sixth inning when Roxanne Rodriguez (Portland/Gregory-Portland HS) cracked a two-run homer, her sixth of the season.

Shelbey Cockrell pitched a complete game victory allowing four hits and one walk while striking out 14 batters to improve to 15-6 on the season.

Cassandra Hernandez (Harlingen/Harlingen South HS) was tagged with her first loss of the season after allowing eight hits and five runs in 4.0 innings.

The two teams will play the final game of the series on Saturday at noon.  Fans who wear pink will be allowed into the game for free as part of Strike Out Pink Day sponsored by Christus Spohn Hospital Kleberg.
####
pr11162-smm