KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team fell to visiting Lone Star Conference rival #19 West Texas A&M, 4-3 in eight innings on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Buffs (19-8, 5-4) won the series 2-1.

In extra innings, the Lady Buffs were able to scratch across a run on an infield single in the top of the eighth inning. The Javelinas (12-17, 1-7) made two outs to start their half of the inning before Kaylee Villanueva (Corpus Christi/Moody HS) doubled. WT intentionally walked Lindsey Brown (Spring/Spring HS), but in the process threw a wild pitch that moved Villanueva to third. Amber Spencer settled down and was able to retire the final batter of the game on a ground out to secure the victory and improve to 8-3 on the season.

The Lady Buffs looked like they were going to blow the game wide open in the early going. They loaded the bases without scoring in the first inning and then scored twice in the third and once more in the fourth, but Brown was able to strand eight runners through the first four innings.

The Javelinas got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. Yvette Berlanga (San Antonio/O’Connor HS) led off with a double and went to third on a single by Villanueva. Brown followed with a line shot that hit pitcher Marci Womack in the leg driving in one run and sending Womack out of the game with an injury. Roxanne Rodriguez (Portland/Gregory-Portland HS) followed with a sacrifice fly to pull the Javs to within 3-2.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Brown cracked her third home run of the season to tie the game.

The Lady Buffs had eight hits in the game and walked eight times. Alyssa Lemos had a double and scored twice and Mallory Wyatt went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Renee Erwin cracked a triple, drove in a run and scored a run. Spencer picked up the win by tossing 5.0 innings of relief allowing two hits, one run and two walks while striking out two.

The Javelinas managed six hits in the game with Villanueva and Brown leading the way with two apiece. Brown was 2-for-2 with a run, two RBI’s, a home run and two walks while Villanueva went 2-for-4 with a double and a run. Brown took the loss in the circle tossing a complete game allowing eight hits, four runs and eight walks while striking out four.

The Javelinas are back in action on Tuesday at UH-Victoria for a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m.
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