KINGSVILLE, Texas (Softball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (27-24, 14-14 LSC) came out with a chip on its shoulder after the series opener and run-ruled Western New Mexico University (2-44, 1-27 LSC) in both games (10-0 and 13-2) to win the series 2-1 on Saturday at Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field.

The Javelinas were unstoppable all day long and did their part in hopes of receiving a berth to the Lone Star Conference Tournament for the first time since 2009. All eyes will turn to the series finale between Texas Woman's and A&M-Commerce on Sunday at 3 p.m where an A&M-Commerce loss will propel Kingsville into the tournament in what is right now a 1-1 series.

Alexei Gonzalez batted 1.000 and scored three runs in the doubleheader. Leadoff hitter Rachael Longoria was next with a .833 batting average and finished with three RBIs, while Lauren Oatman and (.600) and Roxy Chapa (.333) each led with four ribbies apiece. Along with Gonzalez, Longoria and Oatman, Randa Hatter (.600) and Victoria Schoonard-Saborio scored three runs. Arabella Acosta-Cantu scored twice.

The day still belonged to senior Carlie Clark (5-7) who was awarded both wins on the day and gave up just two runs on eight hits, and fanned 11 batters with one walk permitted in nine innings pitched.

Game 1
The Javelinas hit the ground running by batting one round in the first inning. Longoria and Schoonard-Saborio started the action with back-to-back doubles (Schoonard-Saborio, RBI) and one batter later, Chapa crushed the first pitch she saw over the center field wall for an early 3-0 lead. In addition to the Hogs bats, the Mustangs committed four errors that translated directly to a couple of runs as the frame ended with a 5-0 Hoggie lead. TAMUK continued to roll in the home half of the second as Acosta-Cantu singled in Schoonard-Saborio and Haley Boyett plated Hatter to extend the lead 7-0.

Keeping their foot on the gas, A&M-Kingsville took a 10-0 lead after scoring three runs in the third. Hatter recorded an RBI the hard way and was hit by a pitch before Chapa's single scored Longoria for the ninth run. Later in the third inning, Hatter touched home plate thanks to a SAC fly from Oatman to tack on the final run. 

Clark (4-7) dealt her best game of the season with eight strikeouts for a new game-high and flirted with her second no-hitter of the season before it was broken up by Aryana Gutierrez in the fifth inning. The senior permitted just one walk and tossed her her fifth complete game of the year. 

Lana Waddell (1-17) was credited the loss after she split two innings of work with Thalia O'Neill where they combined for five walks and just one strikeout. Each of the Javelina starter reached base safely in the shut out and was led by Longoria's two hits and two runs scored and Chapa's three RBIs.

Game 2
The Mustangs scored first as seniors Linzy and Lacy Granger wanted to get in on the senior day love. Linzy reached on an error to leadoff the first inning and Lacy brought her home later in the stanza with a SAC fly. Ariana Maldonado stepped into the batter's box after the first run was scored and singled to center field, however, another committed error by TAMUK scored Mariangela Garcia for the second unearned run of the inning. 

The Javelinas got the bats on track in the home half of the third as each batter registered one hit with no outs accounted four. TAMUK logged six consecutive base hits followed by back-to-back extra base hits to spark a ten-run inning. After Hatter, Chapa and Acosta-Cantu hit RBI singles to take a 3-2 lead, Oatman hit a three-run double to stretch the lead 6-2 and Boyett hit her third triple of the year to place the Hogs back in scoring position. Lindsey Angelico brought Boyett home with a single to complete a round and the blessings continued to flow for the Hogs as they went on to score three more runs before WNMU finally put an end to the inning with Kingsville ahead 10-2.

The home team tacked on three more insurance runs in the fourth frame for a 13-2 lead. Gonzalez RBI single crossed the first run and Longoria followed with a two-run RBI single to center field. Longoria (3-for-3) and Gonzalez (2-for-2) batted 1.000 in the final home game of the season and teamed up for four RBIs.

The Blue and Gold closed the game in the top of the fifth with Hatter in the circle, but Clark did much of the work by throwing three strikeouts with no walks in four innings, making her record 5-7 to end the regular season. Waddell split two innings again, but this time senior Domi Shone who picked up the loss due to the ten-run inning.

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