KINGSVILLE, Texas, - Sarah Gilbert, Breanna Smith and Carla Torres combined to allow just two earned runs over 12 innings as the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team swept a doubleheader from the St. Edwards Hilltoppers by scores of 11-2 and 3-2 at Hubert Field on Tuesday evening in Kingsville, Texas.
The Javelinas win streak now stands at seven-in-a-row and they have a record of 10-7. St. Edwards' record is now 0-13.
TAMUK's offense was led by Rachael Longoria, who collected three hits, scored two runs and also drove in three. Loren Kelly picked up a hit in either contest to push her hitting streak to 10. Anastasia Leibas totaled four hits and also drove in two.
GAME ONE
The Hoggies broke on top in the very first inning against Reagan Carter (0-5). A Kelly lead-off single was followed by an RBI double courtesy of Longoria. A walk and a hit batter forced in a second run and, with two outs, Alexei Gonzalez slapped a single up the middle that tallied a pair for a 4-0 lead and an error allowed the Javelinas to add on one more before the third out was recorded.
A sixth run for Craig Nicholson's team came across in the 2nd when a hit by Haley Boyett brought in Sydney Andrews. St. Edwards scored a run off Smith (7-3) in the third, but the response in the bottom half came in the form a Longoria RBI single.
Four more runs in the fourth blew the game open for the Javs. With two on and nobody out, Leibas lined a base hit through the box, scoring Victoria Schoonard-Saborio for an 8-1 advantage. After Boyett raced home on a passed ball, the home team's lead grew to 10 thanks to a two-run knock by Lauren Oatman.
Smith was relieved in the fifth and a two-out walk forced in the Hilltoppers' second run, but Torres got the final two outs to clinch the opener.
GAME TWO
The start of the second game very much resembled that of the first, with a first inning rally providing the Javelina starter with a lead. Kelly kicked things off by singling and swiping second and she scored when Longoria also singled. With two outs, an error allowed Longoria to trot across and Boyett dented home with run No. 3 on a safety by Leibas.
Thanks to the pitching of Gilbert (3-3) and Olivia Burdick (0-5), the score remained 3-0 through the next five stanzas. Gilbert allowed just three hits and struck out five without a walk through six innings while Burdick permitted only two hits after the first.
St. Edwards was able to break through in the seventh, with their first two runners reaching on an error and a single. Three batters later, Kayla Appleby put the Hilltoppers just one run behind with a two-RBI single, but a flyout by Kathryn Connelly killed the chance and ended the game.
Three more home games are on tap for TAMUK this weekend. They're scheduled to play UT Permian Basin on Friday at 6 p.m. and twice on Saturday, with game one beginning at 1 p.m. Javelina softball can be found on Twitter @TAMUKSB and fans can also like /JavelinaSports on Facebook and subscribe to the Javelina athletics YouTube channel.
