STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Softball) – Four hits were recorded by
Rachael Longoria to pace Texas A&M-Kingsville (15-25-1, 6-16-1 LSC) Sunday at Tarleton State (25-19, 12-10 LSC). The TexAnns won the suspended game from Saturday 6-4 and the series finale 5-4 while the Javelinas took the third contest 5-4.
Coming away with three hits was
Haley Boyett,
Loren Donaldson and
Valerie Ramirez. Donaldson led the squad with a home run and four RBI.
Karri Smith (6-14) went the distance and took the decision in all three games. For TSU, Haley Freeman (17-11) was tagged with the loss and Shelby Hedrick (2-4) won both games coming out of the bullpen.
Game 2 (Suspended Saturday)The Blue and Gold opened the second game of the series with four runs in the first. Donaldson smashed a three-run home run to left center and
Ariana Munoz followed with a solo shot on a 2-2 pitch.
In the third, the TexAnns scored twice to cut TAMUK's lead in half.
The home team had a runner on second with one out in the fourth when weather forced the contest to be suspended until Sunday. When they came back to play, TSU scored four runs in the frame. Melody Mayse drove in the game-winning run on a three-run homer.
Jaeleen Castro, Boyett, Longoria and Ramirez all had a hit apiece to pace the Blue and Gold.
Smith threw six innings and gave up six runs, only one earned, on six hits on the rubber.
Mikayla Stogsdill and Mayse had a game-high two hits. Also driving in a run was Katelyn Conlee and Taylor Fitzgerald.
Starting the game for the TexAnns was Brenna Hennan. She got an out but was rocked for four runs on three hits before being pulled. Hedrick pitched the final 6.2 innings and surrendered three hits and no runs.
Game 3Corinne Brassell reached base on a fielder's choice and advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt. After
Isabel Flores singled back up the middle to put runners on the corners, a fielding error by TSU's second baseman allowed Brassell to score. Longoria then hit a RBI single to put the Javelinas up 2-0.
The hosts scored a run in the bottom of the frame on a fielder's choice. They put two more on the scoreboard in the third to go up by one.
Castro, Flores and Boyett started the fourth off with consecutive singles to load the bases. Longoria grounded into a fielder's choice but the bases remained juiced. Ramirez took advantage by plating two on a single. A groundout by Donaldson added the third run of the inning and gave TAMUK a 5-3 advantage.
TSU pulled to within one when they scored on a fielding error in the fifth. In the next two frames, the TexAnns put runners in scoring position but the Blue and Gold turned double plays both times to escape the jams.
At the plate, Brassell, Longoria and Smith had two hits each to account for half of the team's total.
Smith recorded two strikeouts in the complete game victory. She did give up four runs on nine hits and a walk.
Nyka Wood paced TSU with two hits and a RBI. Freyman was tagged for 12 hits and five runs and managed to strikeout three.
Game 4Boyett started the series finale off with a double. A walk and fielder's choice loaded the bases with no one gone. Hennan unleashed a wild pitch to give TAMUK an early 1-0 lead.
In the bottom half of the frame, Mayse reached on a fielding error and then stole second. Two batters later Wood tied the game on a single.
A walk was drawn by Boyett to lead off the third. On the very next pitch, Longoria hit a RBI double putting the Javelinas up 2-1.
TSU answered back again in the next half inning with two runs to go in front.
Back-to-back singles from Ramirez and Donaldson started the sixth. Castro reached base on an error by Hedrick that saw Ramirez cross the plate and knot the score 3-3. Another fielding error, this time by Stogsdill, gave the Blue and Gold a one run lead.
However, three singles and a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the seventh plated two runs as the TexAnns recorded a walk-off victory.
TAMUK was held to four hits in the contest, one each by the first four batters. Smith struck out two but gave up five runs on seven hits in 6.2 innings.
Both Savannah Stech and Conlee recorded a team-high two hits while Conlee and Wood drove in two runs each.
Getting the first out of the game in the circle was Hennan but she gave up a run on a hit and two free passes. Hedrick allowed three hits and runs over the final 6.2 innings to get credit for the win.
Next up for the Blue and Gold is a trip to Houston-Victoria on Tuesday at 2 p.m.
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