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KINGSVILLE, Texas (Softball) – Knowing the uphill battle for the sixth seed in the loaded Lone Star Conference, Texas A&M University-Kingsville (20-29, 9-18 LSC) showcased its resilience with a come from behind 10-9 victory in game one and an extra-inning 3-2 win in game two versus Tarleton State University (25-24, 8-18 LSC) Friday at Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field.
 
Trailing 9-2 with two outs in the seventh in game one, the Javelinas scored eight runs on five hits to complete the comeback, taking the series opener 10-9. A pitcher's duel followed in game two, with Texas A&M-Kingsville coming up big in the bottom of the 10^th for a 3-2 win.
 
The pitchers had a long drawn out battle in game two that lasted ten innings. Both Karri Smith and Haley Freyman tossed complete games, increasing Smith's total to nine in 2016. Alexei Gonzalez wrapped up the long night for the Javelinas with a walk-off duck in the bottom of the 10^th inning that fell right behind second base, driving in Rachael Longoria for the sweep.
 
Roxy Chapa was outstanding offensively and finished day one 5-for-8 at the dish. The freshman backstop had a team high of five RBI. Longoria and Lauren Oatman went 4-for-7 in Friday's doubleheader and Victoria Schoonard-Saborio (.375) and Alexei Gonzalez (.333) eclipsed the .300 clip.
 
"I wish I could say my staff and I coached us to victory tonight," head coach Betsy Dean said. "This was truly a team effort. They executed and did what they had to do when they had to do it." When asked about the importance of this series and how the coaching staff has prepared for this weekend, coach Dean said, "We are refraining from the "must-win" attitude. We just want to go out there and take it one pitch at a time. One thing I do know about this group is regardless of how things play out, we will go out fighting."
 
Game One
The bats came alive in a hurry as the Javelinas erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the seventh to rally from a seven-run deficit to walk-off in style, taking the series opener 10-9.
 
Lindsey Angelico (1-for-3) hit the walk-off single that featured three runs cross the plate as the epic comeback was completed.
 
Chapa and Oatman went 3-for-4 at the plate and combined for five RBI. Along with Angelico, Longoria, Corinne Brassell, Myrissa Sanchez and Gonzalez all contributed with a hit.
 
Sarah Gilbert tossed her fourth complete game of 2016 to improve to 5-5. Haley Freyman was charged with the loss and is now 20-16 this season.
 
The TexAnns jumped out to a 6-0 lead with five runs in the first and a run in the second.
 
Chapa singled to center field in the bottom of the third frame to score Sanchez, who singled to start the inning and Longoria, who walked to cut TAMUK's deficit to 6-2.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, TSU scored three more runs to take a 9-2 lead that held up until the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
Consecutive errors by TSU put Delila Gillespie and Sanchez on the bags before Longoria singled through the left side to load the bases. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Chapa jump started the scoring with a two-run single. Gonzalez, Oatman and Brassell followed suit with RBI singles to trim the once seven-run lead to 9-7. With the tying run at first, Angelico stepped up to the plate and sent a laser down the left field line driving in Brassell and Oatman. A fielding error by the left fielder opened a window for the 5-1 freshman to sprint on home and beat the tag as Texas A&M-Kingsville took game one 10-9.
 
Game two
Gonzalez (2-for-4) hit the walk-off single to lift the Javelinas over Tarleton State 3-2 in 10 innings to complete Friday's doubleheader sweep. Longoria (3-for-4) increased her multiple hits game total to 15 and Schoonard-Saborio also had three hits in five at bats. Chapa went 2-for-4 at the plate in game two and Oatman recorded one of the Javelinas five doubles.
 
Smith (6-10) earned the win in the circle after the complete game to record her 30^th game finished of her career. The Alvin native concluded game two with a 1.40 ERA and three strikeouts. Freyman (20-17) was tagged with the loss. In Friday's doubleheader, Freyman threw a total of 276 pitches.
 
Both pitchers opened game two with back-to-back scoreless innings until the TexAnns scored a run in the third and fourth innings for an early 2-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Schoonard-Saborio hit a double to put runners in scoring position as Longoria, who reached on a walk earlier in the frame, was on third. Chapa followed with a single to right field to plate Longoria for the Hogs first run in game two. Oatman hit a ball over the left fielder's head for another TAMUK double to help tie the game 2-2.
 
Smith and Freyman continued their pitcher's duel, matching zeros on the scoreboard until the 10^th inning.
 
Another two out rally in the later stages played a pivotal role in TAMUK's win as Longoria and Schoonard-Saborio singled and Chapa walked to load the bases. Gonzalez blooped a 2-2 pitch just behind second base to give the Blue and Gold the 3-2 victory and the second walk-off victory in as many games.
 
The Javelinas and TexAnns conclude their four-game series tomorrow beginning at 2 p.m.
 
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