GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Softball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (2-0) started the 2017 on a high note by defeating Regis University (4-3), 4-3 in the clubs first game and then topped Colorado Christian University (5-4), 2-0 at the North Texas Softball Bash at Jennifer McFalls Park.

The Javelinas showed a little bit of everything on their opening day as they hit .333 as a team and held their opponents to a .189 batting average. Against the Regis Rangers, the Hogs exploded inside of the batter's box in the second inning to help propel them to victory. Conversely, against Colorado Christian, Texas A&M-Kingsville showcased their strong defense by shutting the Cougars out 2-0. 

In the latter game, Randa Hatter tossed her first collegiate complete game and recorded two strikeouts. All-American Roxy Chapa picked up where she left off last year and extended her hitting streak to 13 consecutive games. Chapa, along with Haley Boyett and Arabella Acosta-Cantu  batted .500 in the two games, while Alexei Gonzalez batted .400. 

Game 1
Boyett started the season strong by going 2-of-3 at the plate with two RBI's. Acosta-Cantu and Chapa both recorded two hits in the season opener, while Rachael Longoria, Gonzalez, Dellilia Gillespie and Sydney Andrews each registered one hit to tally ten total for the team.

Freshman Breanna Smith (1-0) captured her first collegiate win in the circle after facing nine batters in 2.2 innings. Carlie Clark tossed 4.1 innings in the win and struck out five batters, while earning two runs. Logan Losh (3-2) picks up the loss after tossing a complete game. 

Regis struck first after a double from Carlie Sexton that sent one runner home in the top of the first inning. However, the Hogs poured it on in the second inning with six hits to score three runners and took a 3-1 lead heading to the top of the third inning. 

The Rangers tied the game in the fifth inning highlighted by Emily John stealing home. The score remained tied at the top of the seventh inning where the Javelina defense came up big as they gave up one hit but zero runs. The good defensive effort transitioned to the bats starting with Andrews who singled to third base and then stole second base. Leadoff batter Acosta-Cantu hit a strike through the four-five hole that placed runners on the corner bases with no outs and Boyett at the dish. The junior pulled out her clutch card with a sacrificial bunt towards third base that scored Andrews and gave the Blue and Gold a 4-3 win to open the day.   

Game 2
The Javelina freshman impressed in game two led by Abigail Mangold offensively with two hits on three at bats and one of two runs batted in. Chapa—who was responsible for the other RBI—Gillespie, Gonzalez, Boyett and Victoria Schoonard-Saborio all recorded one hit.

Chapa increased her streak to 13 games with a hit after a double in the first inning that sent Schoonard-Sabario to home plate for the early 1-0 lead. The Hogs scored again in the top of the second inning off of the bat of Mangold who singled to right field to cross Acosta-Cantu.

The Javelina defense was the story of game two as freshman pitcher Hatter had a no-hitter going until Colorado Christian finally got a hit in the fifth inning from Amy Edison. The defense was not phased at all though and converted a big 5-2-3 play with bases loaded to escape the inning. Hatter pitched all seven innings and recorded two strike outs in her first collegiate game to complete the 2-0 shutout.

The Blue and Gold will return to the field tomorrow as they square off against Northwestern Oklahoma State at 1:30 p.m.  

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