STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Softball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (14-11, 6-6 LSC) came out to the diamond with something to prove and did so with a big 9-3 victory over Tarleton State University (19-13, 7-7 LSC) Friday evening at Tarleton State Softball Complex.

The victory for the Hogs snaps their four-game losing streak, the TexAnns three-game winning streak and have now won five of the last seven meetings between the two clubs.

Rachael Longoria had a day at the plate as she batted .750 and drove in three runs including a two-run homer for the final lead change of the game. Victoria Schoonard-Saborio matched the third baseman with three ribbies after going yard in the plentiful sixth inning to help stiff arm the TexAnns. Lauren Oatman and Arabella Acosta-Cantu each tallied two hits and combined for three RBIs, while Alexei Gonzalez, Roxy Chapa and Randa Hatter all registered a hit. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Javelinas got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third inning. Longoria walked to begin the frame and was bumped over to second after a SAC bunt from Schoonard-Saborio. Chapa singled to the shortstop and Haley Boyett trotted to first on a walk to load the bases. Acosta-Cantu followed Chapa's lead and singled to the sixth position to drive in Longoria for the games first run. TSU took a temporary 2-1 lead after scoring two runs off of a wild pitch and an error, but after a leadoff double from Gonzalez in the fourth, Longoria hit a two-run shot to recapture the lead for the Hogs, 3-2.

TAMUK never looked back, especially after lighting up the scoreboard with six runs on six hits and one error in the sixth stanza. It started with a RBI single from Longoria and was highlighted by a three-run dinger from Schoonard-Saborio for her fifth of the year. Oatman batted in two insurance runs with a double down the right field line that essentially sealed the win for the Hogs to open the series. TSU crossed another run in the bottom of the seventh but ultimately fell 9-3.

Breanna Smith improves to 7-5, fanning five and walking seven in 6.2 innings. She matched Jordan Withrow in strikeouts but gave up six hits to the Javs in 5.1 inning to move to 5-5 in the circle.  

The series continues tomorrow with a twin bill slated for 1 and 3 p.m. 

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