ABILENE, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team fell to Lone Star Conference rival Abilene Christian in a pair of tightly contested games, 4-2 and 1-0, at Poly Wells Field on Friday.
In the first game, the Wildcats (20-8, 6-4) took advantage of two Javelina (12-19, 1-10) errors to score three unearned runs. ACU scored in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a balk and a passed ball. They added a second run in the third inning on a two-out double from Kimberly Briggs that scored Courtney Flanary.
The Javelinas finally got on the board in the top of the fifth inning when Kodie Garner (Garland/Garland HS) led off with her first career home run.
The Wildcats responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Briggs and Sarah Martinez each had run-scoring singles.
The Hoggies made one last rally in the seventh inning when they took advantage of two Wildcat errors to score a run, but Peyton Mosley was able to hold on for the win. She pitched a complete game allowing three hits and two walks while striking out three. Flanary scored three times to lead the offense.
Lauren Denney (Alvin/Alvin HS) started and pitched 4.1 innings for the Javelinas allowing four hits, one earned run and two walks in the loss.
In the second game, Denise Arnold (Katy/Katy HS) and Caitlyn Crain locked up in a pitcher’s duel. Arnold gave up her lone run in the third inning, but it would end up being enough as Crain shutout the Javelinas.
The Javelinas left runners in scoring position in the first, second, fourth, sixth and seventh innings, but were never able to bring a run around. Yvette Berlanga (San Antonio/O’Connor HS) and Kaycee Bryan (Splendora/Splendora HS) each had doubles for the team. Arnold allowed five hits, one run and three walks in 4.1 innings while striking out a pair. Denney pitched 1.2 scoreless innings of relief to finish the game.
Crain scattered four hits and one walk while striking out eight to earn the victory. Keanna Winfield had two hits and scored the games’ only run.
The two teams are back in action on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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