KINGSVILLE, Texas – Bethany Hines allowed one earned run on three hits in seven innings of work and the Cameron Aggies handed the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team a 4-2 loss on Friday afternoon at Hubert Field in Kingsville, Texas.
After sweeping the Aggies in a doubleheader on Thursday, the Javelinas can still claim the series, but their record falls to 19-19, with nine wins against 12 losses in Lone Star Conference play. The Aggies are 20-11 and 10-8.
Senior Sarah Gilbert (8-7) (Chipley, Fla.) set down the side in order in the first, but Cameron's offense was able to make headway in the second. Hines picked up her team's first hit with a single before moving into scoring position on a groundout. When Abbey Warren lined a double into the left field corner, Hines was able to score for a 1-0 advantage.
The Aggies added one more run in the second by stringing a pair of two-out knocks together. Kaylyn Smith sent a hit through the middle and swiped second, providing Callie Busby with an opportunity she took advantage of. The sophomore's double tallied Cameron's second run and doubled their lead.
An immediate response from the Javelinas came in the bottom half of the third. Junior Arabella Acosta-Cantu (Corpus Christi, Texas) legged out a double and when senior Haley Boyett (Waco, Texas) attempted to move the runner over, an error allowed Acosta-Cantu to touch home and slice TAMUK's deficit to one.
Unfortunately for the Javelinas, they couldn't keep Cameron from getting on the scoreboard again in the fourth. A two-run homer by Raley Long pushed the visitors' lead to three and Hines (9-5) kept it there until the seventh. The Aggie starter faced the minimum in the fourth, fifth and sixth before the Javelinas threatened in the final frame. Meanwhile, sophomore Breanna Smith (San Antonio, Texas) entered the game in relief for Kingsville and she'd go on to fire 3 1-3 innings of two-hit ball.
Senior Roxy Chapa (McAllen, Texas) began the seventh by reaching on an error and she scored when freshman Anastasia Leibas (Del Valle, Texas) socked a double into the gap in right-center. TAMUK had a couple chances with the tying run at the plate, but Hines was able to escape the jam.
On Friday, April 6th, the St. Mary's Rattlers will be in Kingsville for doubleheader with the Javs. Game one has a scheduled start time of 5 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.
