MONTICELLO, Ark. – Senior Sarah Gilbert (Chipley, Fla.) tossed a complete game shutout in game one and junior Lauren Oatman (Fort Worth, Texas) crushed a grand slam in game two as the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team glided to a doubleheader sweep of the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms on Tuesday afternoon at Blossoms Field in Monticello, Ark.
With these two wins, the Hoggies improve to 16-11 while the Bison fall to 2-17.
GAME ONE
Through three innings, Gilbert and Abigail Leonards (2-7) held both lineups in check, but one swing by freshman Anastasia Leibas (Del Valle, Texas) changed that. TAMUK's designated player launched a solo homer over the wall in right-center for the game's first run. That long ball was immediately followed by another, this one courtesy of junior Roxy Chapa (McAllen), who went out to left-center and Kingsville's lead now stood at 2-0.
That edge was more than enough for Gilbert (6-4), who continues to lower what is already one of the lowest ERAs in the Lone Star Conference. The senior was on her game again on this day. She didn't allow a single baserunner to reach third base and twice sent down the Bison in 1-2-3 fashion. In throwing her third complete game shutout of the season, the Florida native allowed only four hits and struck out two.
The game's final run came as the result of a two-out rally in the seventh that freshman Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) started by drawing a walk. Kelly raced to second to collect her 10th stolen base of the season and junior Victoria Schoonard-Saborio's (Elk Grove, Calif.) single plated Kelly with an insurance tally. All the Cotton Blossoms could muster in their half of the seventh was a one-out walk before Gilbert clamped down to clinch the win.
GAME TWO
The start of the second game was nearly identical to that of the first. This time, the pitchers were sophomore Breanna Smith (San Antonio, Texas) and freshman Hayley McGhee (0-1). Once again, the scoreboard was all zeroes after three innings. The Javelinas managed just two knocks against McGhee and Smith permitted just one hit.
In the fourth inning, the Javs not only took the lead, but blew the game wide open with an onslaught that sent McGhee packing. They started things off with some aggressive baserunning that netted them the lead. Senior Haley Boyett (Waco, Texas) led-off with a bunt single and stole second and third in quick succession. Sophomore Sydney Andrews (Belton, Texas) reached on an error with one out and followed suit by swiping second and Kelly sent both runners across by dropping a double into left-center. After Kelly was caught stealing, a walk and two singles loaded the bases and brought up Oatman. On the first pitch of the at-bat, the junior from Fort Worth belted a long fly to right-center that left the yard and put Kingsville up 6-0. Oatman's grand slam was the first for the Javelinas since Rachael Longoria (Hutto, Texas) hit one against Texas Woman's on April 9th, 2016.
Two more TAMUK runs came in form of a two-RBI double by junior Arabella Acosta-Cantu (Corpus Christi, Texas) in the fifth and Smith (10-6) took over from there. While putting together her third complete-game shutout of 2018, Smith racked up nine strikeouts for the second consecutive outing. She also conceded just three hits and didn't issue a walk while earning her 10th win.
Coach Nicholson and his players now turn their attention back to conference play, which restarts with a three-game series against Tarleton State at Hubert Field. The Javelinas and TexAnns will play one game on Friday at 6 p.m. and a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. To keep up with the Javelinas all season long, visit Javelinaathletics.com, follow @TAMUKSB on Twitter, like /JavelinaSports on Facebook and subscribe to the Javelina athletics YouTube channel.
