KINGSVILLE, Texas (Softball) – Texas A&M-Kingsville (13-14, 5-7 LSC) brought their brooms with them to Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field Saturday afternoon. The Javelinas won 2-1 and 9-7 over Eastern New Mexico (15-16, 3-13 LSC) to complete the four-game series sweep.
A Mar. 25-26 series in 2011 was the last time the Blue and Gold won a Lone Star Conference series, which came on the road versus the Zias. ENMU was also the last conference opponent TAMUK swept a series from in 2010 at home (Mar. 12-13).
With the wins, the Javelinas extended their winning streak to six games. The last time the program won six in a row was Feb. 22 to Mar. 7, 2011.
Loren Donaldson led the Javelinas with five hits on the afternoon. Recording three base knocks, three runs and two stolen bases was
Haley Boyett. Both
Valerie Ramirez and
Karri Smith had a team-high two RBI.
Picking up the wins were
Carlie Clark (5-3) and Smith (5-7). Aja Secheslingloff (11-11) took the loss in both contests and was on the losing end of the decision the entire series.
Game 1Jaeleen Castro drew a walk to lead off the third inning and advanced to within 60 feet of scoring when Clark hit the ball off the left field wall for a double.
Ariel Kellogg then reached base on a sacrifice bunt attempt that the Eastern first baseman could not field cleanly and allowed Castro to touch home plate.
Boyett laid down a second straight sac bunt to plate the second run of the frame.
The Zias were able to score once in the sixth on a double off the bat of Susannah Chandler.
Clark held the visitors scoreless the other six innings as she went the distance for the third time this week and second against ENMU. She struck out two and gave up seven runs, four walks and a run.
TAMUK was held to four hits in the game with two each from Clark and Donaldson.
Audrey Velasquez went 3-for-3 with a walk for the Zias. Secheslingloff recorded six strikeouts and allowed two runs on four hits while going the distance.
Game 2Just like in Friday's night cap, the Zias's bats came alive in the top of the first. This time they scored five run on five hits with the highlight being Elizabeth Velasquez's bases clearing double.
However, Smith came on in relief and held the opponents scoreless for the next five innings. Keeping Eastern off balance at the plate allowed the Blue and Gold to slowly chip away at the deficit.
Back-to-back free passes were issued to start the bottom of the first to Boyett and
Rachael Longoria. Ramirez then laced a 1-0 pitch to left field for a RBI single. After a single from Donaldson loaded the bases, a wild pitch was unleashed by Katie Ripple to bring home TAMUK's second run.
Smith helped her cause in the third with a sacrifice fly. A single back up the middle off the bat of Ramirez cut Eastern's lead to 5-4 after four.
The second pitch of the bottom of the sixth was sent into the right field corner for a standup triple for Boyett. Longoria laid down a bunt that was fielded by the first baseman. She went home but Boyett touched home plate before the tag was applied by the catcher to tie the game.
Following a wild pitch to move Longoria into scoring position, Donaldson bashed a RBI double that hit off the right field wall.
Stephanie Lugo nearly hit her first collegiate home run two batters later but had to settle for a RBI double as well. Castro then sent a 0-2 pitch over the head of the shortstop and into the left centerfield gap for a double and put TAMUK up 8-5.
The final run for the Javelinas came on a single down the right field line by Smith.
ENMU began the seventh with three straight single to load the bases. Smith got the next two batters to go down on strikes before giving up a two RBI single to Aurelia Sandoval. Those would be the final runs of the game as Smith induced a groundout Donaldson to end the game.
Boyett went 3-for-3 at the plate and scored three times while Donaldson also finished the game with three hits.
Starting in the circle for the Blue and Gold was
Bella Rosas. The Zias had great timing on her pitches as she got only one out and gave up five runs and five hits. Smith went the rest of the way, striking out five with no walks and allowing two runs on seven hits.
Jaqueline Candelaria, Kyra Sirag, Chandler, A. Velasquez and E. Velasquez all had two base knocks to pace ENMU at the plate.
TAMUK rocked Katie Ripple for two runs off of two hits and free passes in her sixth start of the year. She was pulled after facing only four batters and not recording an out. Vanessa Ramirez threw four innings out of the bullpen and finished with a line of six hits, two runs and one walk allowed with a strikeout. Secheslingloff pitched the last two frames as she surrendered five runs on five hits.
Next up for the Javleinas is nationally-ranked and the defending Division II national champions West Texas A&M. The four-game series will take place April 3-4 in Canyon, Texas.
For the latest information on Javelina softball, follow @TAMUKSB on Twitter, @JavelinaAthletics on Instagram and like Javelina Nation on Facebook.
