LAREDO, Texas (Softball) – Carlie Clark (7-6) was sensational in the circle for Texas A&M University-Kingsville (15-20), ending the afternoon with the first no-hitter for the Javelinas since 2005 in the doubleheader split Tuesday at Texas A&M International University (18-23). TAMUK took game one 3-0, before falling 3-2 in game two at Dustdevil Softball Field.
In game one, Clark struck out five Dustdevils en route to her first collegiate no-no. The no-hitter was the fifth in program history. The right-hander allowed just four baserunners in the dominating performance to improve to 7-6 in 2016.
The offense nearly rallied from a 3-0 deficit in game two, with
Lauren Oatman blasting a two-run shot in the seventh to make it a one-run ballgame, but the comeback fell just short in the 3-2 setback.
Rachael Longoria went 2-for-3 in the latter game and
Haley Boyett finished the second contest 2-for-4 at the plate.
Victoria Schoonard-Saborio extended her reached base safely streak to 24 games with a home run in game one and walk in game two.
With the Tuesday split, Texas A&M International edged out the Javelinas in the season series, 3-2.
Game One Clark (7-6) tossed a no-hitter, striking out five batters in the 3-0 victory over Texas A&M International. Clark allowed just four baserunners in the third seven-inning no-hitter in school history.
Roxy Chapa went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Schoonard-Saborio hit her fourth home run of the season. Oatman, Longoria and
Alexei Gonzalez each recorded a single in the first game Tuesday.
With the loss, Krystal De La Cruz fell to 9-9 for the Dustdevils after giving up the three runs in 7.0 innings.
Longoria jump started Kingsville on a two-out single that plated Boyett (reached on walk), giving the Javelinas a 1-0 lead in the leadoff inning.
That was all Clark needed as the right-hander put up zero and zero on the scoreboard. Schoonard-Saborio gave Texas A&M-Kingsville a 2-0 lead following her solo home run in the third, and in the fifth, Chapa's second hit of the ballgame scored Boyett, allowing the Hogs to take a 3-0 lead.
That would be the final as Clark, combined with timely hitting by the Javelina offense, tied the season series up at 2-2 as the South Central Regional foes met in the season opener and during the Emerald Beach Hotel Javelina Softball Invitational.
Game TwoLongoria (2-for-3) and Boyett (2-for-4) led the Blue and Gold in game two, and the offense came up big in the seventh, putting the tying run on third, but the rally fell just short as the Dustdevils salvaged the doubleheader with a 3-2 win, splitting Tuesday's games.
Texas A&M International scored two runs in the bottom of the first and added one in the fourth. The Dustdevils took a 3-0 lead into the final inning before the two-out rally by Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Myrissa Sanchez reached on an infield single and Oatman made it a one-run game, blasting a two-run shot to left field. Boyett followed with a base knock and advanced to third. TAMIU was able to preserve its slim lead and take game two, 3-2.
Delainy Thompson (7-10) was credited with the victory after a complete game and
Michaela Huebotter (1-4) was tagged with the loss after starting in the circle for TAMUK.
Sarah Gilbert relieved Huebotter and struck out three in 4.0 innings.
The Javelinas host the top team in NCAA Division II Friday-Saturday as West Texas A&M University enters Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. April 1 and the Saturday's double dip begins at 1 p.m.
Live stats will be available for all four games and can be accessed by visiting the softball schedule page on JavelinaAthletics.com.
For full coverage of Texas A&M-Kingsville softball, please follow @TAMUKSB on Twitter and Instagram, like the official Facebook page of Javelina athletics (
/JavelinaSports), and subscribe to the JavelinaAthletics YouTube channel.
