CANYON, Texas (Softball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (23-22, 12-12 LSC) becomes the first Lone Star Conference club to slay #6 West Texas A&M University (36-9, 20-6) at home this season after splitting today's doubleheader with a 5-4 loss in game one before bouncing back with a 3-2 victory in game two at Schaeffer Park.

The win over West Texas A&M snaps an 18-game losing streak in the all-time series dating back to 2012. The last time the Hogs walked away victorious in Canyon was in a tight 14-12 affair back in March of 2010. 

Texas A&M-Kingsville nearly swept the day as they led 4-0 and registered an impressive 16-hit performance before the Lady Buffs rallied for the walk-off 5-4 victory behind two RBI doubles. The visiting club had short term memory though, as they took it right back to the nationally ranked squad in game two and held on for a 3-2 win. The Hogs held the conference leading Lady Buffs bats to a .283 average thanks to the pitching staff of Sarah Gilbert (1.50 ERA), Breanna Smith (2.00 ERA) and Carlie Clark (3.82 ERA). 

On the offensive side of the plate, Victoria Schoonard-Saborio continues to dominate opposing pitchers this season as she batted .714 on the day and led the team with five hits and four runs scored in the twin bill. The sophomore extends her reach base safely streak to 23 games and her hitting streak to 12 games, while setting an impressive standard of 20 multiple hit game this season. Randa Hatter paced the way with three RBIs and tied Roxy Chapa and Haley Boyett with a .375 batting average.  

Game 1
Texas A&M-Kingsville struck first in the series opener by capitalizing on West Texas A&M miscues. Schoonard-Saborio doubled down the right field line for the games first hit and crossed home plate for the first run thanks to consecutive fielding errors. In the second frame, TAMUK recorded back-to-back singles through the left side from Schoonard-Saborio and Hatter before Chapa's RBI single to left field extended the lead 2-0.

The Javelinas continued to produce at the plate in the fourth inning, starting with a single from Alexei Gonzalez who then advanced to second on a passed ball. Rachael Longoria singled down the left field line and Schoonard-Saborio laid out a beautiful bunt to load the bases. Hatter then stepped to the plate and drove in two runs with a single to left field to help stretch the Hogs lead 4-0. 

In the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs, the Lady Buffs started to come alive and cut their deficit in half after a two-RBI double from Alyx Cordell. WT would display their clutch gene again in the seventh inning— faced with two outs— when a double from Kylee Moore to center field scored two runners for a 4-4 tie to force extra innings.

A&M-Kingsville suffered one-two-three innings in the top of the eighth and ninth stanza. Although they held off West Texas in the bottom of the eighth despite having runners in scoring position, they Hogs could not contain them in the ninth. WTAMU started the ninth with two singles and after one out was recorded, Kami Merrill was walked to juice the bags. Abigail Smith then recorded her third hit of the game with a RBI walk-off single to left center field to complete the rally, 5-4.  

Sarah Gilbert (6-3) picked up the loss after coming in as a relief pitcher for Carlie Clark (3-7). Gilbert tossed 4.2 innings, logged four strikeouts and was charged with one earned run. Clark had 3.2 innings of work before being pulled. Merrill (4-2) claimed the victory for WT after three innings in the circle where she gave up just one hit. Shayne Starkey got the start for the Lady Buffs (3.1 innings, 10 hits, 4 strikeouts, 3 earned runs), and Kourtney Coveney spent 2.2 innings on the rubber after registering just one strikeout and five hits. 

Schoonard-Saborio carried the torch offensively by garnering her fourth four-hit game of the season and scored two runs, while Hatter and Chapa each had two hits. Hatter led the team with two RBIs and Chapa added one.  

Game 2
The Javelinas got off to another strong start as Hatter brought home Schoonard-Saborio (who reached on a single to left field) off of a double to right center field in the first inning. However, the Lady Buffs tied the game in the second thanks to a triple from Shanna McBroom who crossed Starkey after she reached on a double down the left line. The Blue and Gold responded to the tying run with two runs on four hits highlighted by RBI singles from Arabella Acosta-Cantu and Lauren Oatman for a 3-1 advantage.

WTAMU put one run on the board in the fifth inning to trim the lead to one and threatened in the seventh inning with runners on second and third base. However, the Javelina defense kept their poise and Smith cut the rally short by striking out Starkey for the final out and upset!

Smith achieved her eighth complete game of the year and sent four batters back to the dugout via strikeout to improve her record to 9-7 in the circle. Alexis Alfonso was charged with her second loss of the season (9-2) as she also threw four strikeouts in her fifth  complete game of the year.

Hatter, Acosta-Cantu and Oatman each recorded one hit and one RBI while, Schoonard-Saborio, Chapa and Boyett each recorded one hit. 

Texas A&M-Kingsville will have the opportunity to win the series tomorrow with the first pitch slated for 1 p.m. at Schaeffer Park.

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