KINGSVILLE, Texas – Junior Breanna Smith (San Antonio, Texas) threw seven scoreless innings to move to 5-0 and helped the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team earn a doubleheader split against the Texas Woman's Pioneers, taking the first game 3-0 before dropping the second, 6-5, on Saturday afternoon in Lone Star Conference action at Hubert Field in Kingsville, Texas.
The loss in game two snapped a 14-game win streak for the Javelinas, which still stands as the program's longest since 2005. The team's record now stands at 14-1 and 2-1 in LSC play. TWU improves to 3-8 and 1-2 in the conference.
GAME ONE
The opener began with two scoreless innings despite the Pioneers mounting several threats against Smith. TWU put its lead-off batter on in the first with a single and a steal and put two runners on each in each of the next two frames, but TAMUK's starter squashed each rally.
In the bottom of the third, the Blue and Gold offense came to life against Jordan Kisselburg. After a lead-off single and a fielder's choice, hits from sophomore Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) and freshman Amber Reyes (Edinburg, Texas) loaded the bases with one out. Freshman Jackie De Los Santos (Kingsville, Texas) scored the first run on a groundout by freshman Jory Cervantes (Pflugerville, Texas) and another walk brought up senior Roxy Chapa (McAllen, Texas). Her infield single brought home both Reyes and Kelly to bump the TAMUK lead to 3-0.
From there, it was about Smith. She stranded two more runners in the fourth and the sixth sandwiched around perfect fifth. She closed out the day by retiring the side in order in the seventh. Smith didn't allow a single extra base hit on the day and also tallied a pair of strikeouts while logging her fifth win.
GAME TWO
The Pioneers quickly jumped on starter Saidi Castillo (Kingsville, Texas) in the first inning, loading the bases on a strikeout with a wild pitch, a single and a walk with one out. Another walk forced in the game's first run and was followed by an RBI single from Taylor Goulet. Two batters later, Lindy Kennedy dropped a single into center that plated two more runs to give the visitors a 4-0 edge.
Chapa got her team back into the game in the second when, after a Victoria Schoonard-Saborio (Elk Grove, Calif.) double, she rocketed a two-run homer over the wall in left-center. The Javs closed to within one an inning later following a sacrifice fly from freshman Veronica Chavez (Tempe, Ariz.).
In the fourth, TWU managed to create a little breathing room by pushing across two more runs. A pair of singles put two runners on and one came across on an error. The next hitter Paige Tamayo dropped a safety into right, scoring Avery Williams with the Pioneers' sixth run of the day.
Those unearned runs were quickly matched by the Javelinas, who immediately loaded the bases. With two outs, an infield hit courtesy of Amber Reyes sent in two to make the score 6-5. Up next was Cervantes and she doubled to left, but sophomore Lisa Sosa (Corpus Christi, Texas) was thrown out at the plate, keeping TAMUK down by a run.
The Javelinas had chances to tie the game in each of the last three innings, putting two runners in the fifth and sixth, but they couldn't find the hit they needed to draw even. A drive to the wall in left by Leibas in the seventh was caught, snuffing out the Javelinas' last threat.
On Friday, the Javelinas continue their conference schedule when they visit the Tarelton State Texans in Stephenville, Texas for a series that starts with Friday night matchup at 6 p.m. To stay up-to-date with Javelina softball all year long, follow @TAMUKSB and @JavelinaSports on Twitter, @JavelinaSports on Instagram, like Javelina Sports on Facebook and visit Javelinaathletics.com.
