LAREDO, Texas – Racheal Longoria totaled two hits, including her first home run of the season, and drove in three runs in a 7-4 victory for the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team over the Texas A&M International Dustdevils on Saturday afternoon at Dustdevil in Laredo, Texas. This win came after TAMUK dropped the first game of the day, 5-2, against Central Oklahoma.
FIRST GAME
The second batter of the game was Victoria Schoonard-Saborio, who drilled an 0-2 pitch over the left-center field wall for her first home run of the season.
Central Oklahoma responded in the bottom of the second. Carli Jones singled and Casady Webb reached on an error, bringing up Allie Eicher, who slapped a single through the middle, scoring Jones with the tying run. One frame later, consecutive hits by Carrie Abrams and Morgan Heard pushed across the go-ahead run for a 2-1 lead.
The Bronchos extended their lead to four with two runs in the fifth, coming courtesy of an error and a sacrifice fly by Webb. That edge grew to 5-1 when Bailey Thompson singled, stole two bags and scored on an error.
The Javelinas drew to within three in the ninth when Ileana Aleman doubled in Haley Boyett, but that was as close as they would get.
GAME TWO
In the top of the second, Boyett reached on an error with one out and Alexei Gonzalez walked. Another single by Aleman loaded the bases and TAMUK tallied the game's first run on a fielder's choice.
The Dustdevils promptly tied the score in their half of the second on an RBI single by Cassie Cannon and they moved in front in the third when Lindsey Smith singled, stole second and moved up twice on groundouts, providing TAMIU with a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth the home team used a solo homer by Brandi Giles, two hits and two errors to add two more runs to their total, but Breanna Smith (2-0) refused to allow the Dustdevils to tack on any more after that. Smith stranded runners in scoring position in both the fifth and the sixth innings to keep International's offense at bay.
The top of the sixth, the Javelina offense solved Melanie Lint and blew up to take the lead. Hits by Aleman and Sydney Andrews began the frame and, after a fielder's choice and a walk loaded the bases, Roxy Chapa ripped a single into left field, scoring all three runners to knot the score at 4-4. Another single by Anastasia Leibas brought up Longoria, who launched a three-run blast over the center field fence, putting TAMUK ahead 7-4. Smith secured the win by retiring the last five batters she faced.
On Sunday, the Hoggies will battle Central Oklahoma one more time, with the first pitch set for 10 a.m. To keep up with Javelina softball all season long, you can follow the team on Twitter @TAMUKSB, like /JavelinaSports on Facebook and subscribe to the Javelina athletics YouTube channel.
