KINGSVILLE, Texas (Softball) – A walk-off double by
Valerie Ramirez in the second game of the doubleheader Wednesday afternoon gave Texas A&M-Kingsville (14-19) a split with St. Edward's (22-15) on Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field. The Hilltoppers took the first contest 5-1 and the Javelinas came from behind for a 3-2 victory in game two.
Leading the Blue and Gold at the plate was
Rachael Longoria going 5-for-7 at the plate.
Haley Boyett finished with three hits and
Jaeleen Castro added two while they both scored twice.
Karri Smith (5-10) was tagged with the loss and Sarah Debrow (13-6) picked up the win.
Bella Rosas improved to 4-5 on the season with the complete game victory while Katelyn Klug dropped to 8-9.
Game 1SEU opened the game by putting runners on the corners with one out. Smith escaped the jam getting the next two batters to go down swinging.
Boyett opened the bottom half of the frame by beating out a bunt back to the pitcher for a single. Longoria then laced a base knock to left center to put two on with zero outs. However, Dubrow induced three straight outs to end the Javelinas' threat.
The Hilltoppers broke through in the third with two runs on three hits and a Blue and Gold fielding error. They added three more in the next frame to increase their lead to 5-0.
Castro sent the first pitch she saw to left for a single to start the bottom of the fifth. After Smith grounded out and moved Castro into scoring position,
Myrissa Sanchez singled down the left field line. Castro was held at third but Sanchez moved up to second on the throw. Boyett then laid down a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt to plate the only run for TAMUK.
Longoria led the Javelinas at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance. Also recording a base knock were Boyett, Castro, Sanchez and Smith.
In the circle, Smith went the distance for the 13th time this season. She struck out three but gave up five runs on three hits.
Caitie Carney was a perfect 4-for-4, all of them singles, for the Hilltoppers. Breah Whitten had two hits and two RBI while Faith Roberts and Carney plated a run apiece.
Seven strikeouts were recorded by Debrow on the rubber in the complete game effort. She surrendered six hits and a run without walking a batter.
Game 2SEU struck first again in the third. Cydney Ervin scored when she stole second and came around when the throw went all the way to the outfield fence. Faith Roberts followed with a RBI single three batters later.
Castro battled and drew a walk to start off the bottom of the fifth. She stole second by getting under just under the tag to move into scoring position. A ball hit down the right field line from Boyett appeared to be going foul but the wind pushed it fair and hit off the wall right below the foul pole resulting in a RBI double.
Longoria then sent a 1-2 pitch to center for a single to drive in a run and tie the game 2-2.
With one out in the seventh, Boyett drove a 1-2 offering to right center for her second double of the game. The game nearly ended when Longoria sent the next pitch to left field but SEU's outfielder made an over the shoulder catch forcing Boyett to return to the base. After fouling off back-to-back pitches, Ramirez smashed a walk-off double to center field.
Longoria recorded her second multi-hit game of the day with three base knocks. Boyett went 2-for-4 and scored twice as well.
Rosas threw all seven innings as she allowed two runs on six hits and five walks.
Morgan Dufour went 2-for-2 at the dish. Roberts had SEU's only RBI of the contest. Klug pitched 6.2 innings with six strikeouts. She was tagged for nine hits and three runs.
Next up for the Blue and Gold is a four-game set Lone Star Conference series at home against Texas Woman's. There series begins Friday at 5 p.m.
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