SAN ANGELO, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team traveled to Lone Star Conference rival #15 Angelo State on Friday for a doubleheader and were handed a pair of losses, 5-3 and 5-0.

In the first game, the Belles (41-8, 22-4) used the long ball to their advantage as they cracked four home runs. Morgan Spearman led off the bottom of the first inning with a homer and then Elsamartina Apo hit a two-run shot three batters later. Lauren Smith hit the first of her two home runs in the second inning to make it a 4-0 game.

In the third inning, the Javelinas (17-32, 5-21) put together a little rally. Amber Cherry (Splendora/Splendora HS) and Kodie Garner (Garland/Garland HS) each hit one-out singles and then Ali Bodnar (Las Vegas, NV/Green Valley HS) drove in a run with a two-out single.

Smith’s second homer made it 5-1 after four innings, but the Javelinas were not done. In the top of the sixth inning, Bailey Offil (Van Alstyne/Van Alstyne HS) led off with a single and scored on a double by Taylor McGill (China/Hardin-Jefferson HS). McGill came around to score on Rose Stubbs’ (Garland/Garland HS) triple. Unfortunately, that was as close as the game would get.

The Belles finished with 11 hits in the game. Chelsey Walters went 3-for-3 with a double. Claire Molina picked up the victory and Mary Kate McKay was credited with the save after pitching 1.1 perfect innings of relief.

The Javelinas finished with 10 hits in the game. Stubbs, Garner and Offil each had two hits.

In the second game, the Javelinas were able to get a runner to third base on two occasions, but were unable to score against McKay who pitched a complete game shutout.

The Belles scored a run in the first and third and then put the game away with three runs in the fifth inning. Apo went 2-for-3 with two RBI’s and a home run. April Breshears had a pinch-hit, two-run single in the fifth inning.

The two teams finish their series on Saturday with a single game at 1 p.m.
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