KINGSVILLE, Texas – Walk-off base hits by junior Victoria Schoonard-Saborio (Elk Grove, Calif.) and freshman Anastasia Leibas (Del Valle, Texas) secured both ends of a doubleheader, as the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team defeated the Cameron Aggies by identical scores of 3-2 on Thursday night at Hubert Field in Kingsville, Texas.
These victories push TAMUK's record back above .500 to 19-18 and their Lone Star Conference mark is now 9-11. Cameron drops to 19-11 and 9-8.
GAME ONE
Schoonard-Saborio provided the first heroics of the day in the bottom of the seventh, but a pair of her teammates set the table for her. With one out, senior Haley Boyett (Waco, Texas) beat out an infield hit and freshman Claire Chernosky (Sugar Land, Texas) reached on an error. Both runners were able to move up when freshman Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) grounded out and that brought up Schoonard-Saborio. Down to her last strike, the junior first baseman drove a single through the middle to bring home both runners and the Javelinas were halfway to a sweep.
In the early going, senior Sarah Gilbert (8-6) (Chipley, Fla.) and Bethany Hines (8-5) locked eyes in a pitcher's duel that kept the runs column empty for the first four innings. While each side had opportunities, neither could dent home plate until the fifth, when, with two outs, a single by Hines preceded a Brenna Busby RBI double and the Aggies moved ahead.
One more Aggie run came in the sixth, when Callie Busby began the frame with a solo shot, providing Hines with a two-run cushion, but that extra breathing room was quickly gone. With two outs in the sixth, junior Lauren Oatman (Fort Worth, Texas) was plunked and Leibas ripped a double into left-center, allowing Oatman to tally her team's first run of the day. One frame later, the Javs would get the offense they needed to take home a win.
GAME TWO
It took the Javs a little longer in the nightcap, but they were able to complete the sweep.
Kelly and Schoonard-Saborio staked the home side to an early lead by scratching out a run in the first inning. Kelly waited out a walk from starter Rylee Willmon (10-6) and followed that by stealing second. When Schoonard-Saborio followed with a two-bagger, Kelly waltzed home to make the score 1-0.
That lead seemed to be all starting pitcher and sophomore Breanna Smith (11-11) (San Antonio, Texas) would need, as she breezed through the first six frames, scattering four hits and not walking a batter. She also retired the side in order in three of the first six innings. In the bottom of the sixth, insurance came in the form of junior Roxy Chapa's (McAllen, Texas) eight homer.
Cameron finally found a chink in Smith's armor in the seventh, putting together a rally that began when Makaylah Ramirez reached on an error. Pinch-runner Lauren Mason was able to score when Annie Combs proceeded to double. A single from Hines plated Combs with the tying run and no further scoring in the inning sent the contest into extras.
Both teams had opportunities once the game moved to extra innings, but it took a little two-out magic by the Javelinas to bring the long night to a close. Oatman drew a free pass and, on the first pitch she saw, Leibas sent a screaming line drive into the left field corner. Oatman turned on the jets and raced all the way around from first, easily beating the relay throw with the winning run.
The Javelinas will try and secure a series sweep when they host the Aggies on Friday at 1 p.m. at Hubert Field. Visit Javelinaathletics.com for live stats and a recap. 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.
