KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team (6-5) extended their winning streak to three games with a doubleheader sweep of Huston-Tillotson (0-4) Wednesday afternoon on Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field. Both games ended after five innings by the scores of 9-1 and 8-0 as they Javelinas outhit the Rams 22-8.
Loren Donaldson went 5-for-6 with three doubles, a home run and four RBI.
Rachael Longoria was 4-of-5 at the plate while
Ariana Munoz ripped three hits and plated three runs.
Earning the wins with a complete game each was
Carlie Clark (2-1) and
Bella Rosas (1-2). Both hurlers set season-highs in strikeouts as well. Suffering the losses by the team from Austin, Texas was Emmili Aguero (0-1) and Valerie Perez (0-2).
Game 1Clark dominated in the circle by striking out the side on the minimum nine pitches. She continued in the second by recording her fourth consecutive strikeout victim while not tossing her first ball until her 18th pitch.
While Clark was keeping HTU's hitters off-balance, the Javelinas struck early in the contest. Donaldson started by doubling over the left fielder's head with an out in the first.
Jaeleen Castro followed with another two-base knock for an early 1-0 lead.
The Blue and Gold added another run in the next frame on a RBI single courtesy of Munoz.
After a scoreless third by both squads, TAMUK exploded for five runs in the fourth. Clark began the scoring with a sacrifice fly. Donaldson followed three batters later with a two RBI double to centerfield.
Castro repeated her actions in the first inning with another two-base knock that plated a run.
Valerie Ramirez plated the last run of the game with a single back up the middle.
The Rams scored their lone run of the afternoon on a double to right center from Brianna Saldana in the next half inning.
In the bottom of the fifth,
Myrissa Sanchez single to left center with one gone. Two batters later, Munoz ripped a double to right center for a RBI.
The game ended when
Hayley Boyett reached on an error by the second baseman when she one-hopped the toss to first. With the fielders not paying attention, she broke towards second but was caught in a pickle. Munoz used the opportunity to streak from third towards home, sliding in safely as the throw to the plate could not be corralled by the catcher.
Donaldson was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBI. Both Castro and Munoz plated two runs each and along with Longoria recorded a multi-hit game.
Clark finished with a season-high nine strikeouts and was one away from matching her career-high. She allowed a run on three hits and held the visitors without a baserunner or hit for the first three frames.
Game 2Rosas duplicated Clark's feat in the first game by striking out the first four Ram batters. The Blue and Gold hitters took care of the rest with almost all the damage coming in the first frame.
Boyett led off with a single to center and moved into scoring position by swiping second. Donaldson then sent a 2-2 offering over the fence in left center for a two-run bomb.
Two walks and a single loaded the bases for
Shyenne Hicks, who hit a sac fly to plate a run.
Stephanie Lugo barely beat the throw to second on the play. As the fielder applied the tag at second, Ramirez broke for home and scored while the toss to the plate gave Lugo enough time to scamper to third.
Munoz followed with a single through the left side to bring home the fifth run of the inning.
Back-to-back singles from
Corinne Brassell and Longoria loaded the bases. Boyett then hit a dribbler back up the middle that could not be fielded by any HTU player for a RBI hit. A pass ball allowed Longoria to score the seventh and final run of the frame.
The last score of the contest came on a double by Brassell that drove in Longoria, who was on first.
Boyett, Brassell, Donaldson and Longoria all had two base knocks apiece. Stealing her fourth base of the year was Boyett while Ramirez swiped her first.
Rosas tossed a five-hit shutout with seven strikeouts to just one walk.
The Blue and Gold return to action February 27 at Angelo State for the first Lone Star Conference series of the season.
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