CONROE, Texas – Led by a pair of outstanding relief performances from freshman Saidi Castillo (Kingsville, Texas) and junior Breanna Smith (San Antonio, Texas) and some timely hitting, the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team capped off three days in Conroe, Texas by collecting a two more victories. First, the Javelinas rallied past Colorado School of Mines, 6-2, before knocking off No. 25 Augustana University, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon on the final day of the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational in Conroe, Texas.
The Javs leave Conroe with a 5-0 record, becoming just the second team in program history to start a season 5-0. This represents TAMUK's best start since they won their first seven games in 2009.
"I thought we pitched really well this weekend," said coach Craig Nicholson. "Our defense was solid. There were a couple mistakes, but overall, I thought we did a nice job defensively. We need our offense to continue to progress, but I like the at-bats that some people are having. I thought we played very well."
TAMUK vs. Colorado Mines
The Javelinas used a five-run sixth inning to erase a 2-1 deficit and Castillo threw the final 4 1/3 innings without allowing a run as the Blue and Gold dropped the Orediggers, 6-2.
The Javs wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as sophomores Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) and Jory Cervantes (Pflugerville, Texas) began the game with singles and each picked up stolen bases to put runners on second and third with nobody out. When senior Roxy Chapa (McAllen, Texas) grounded out two batter later, Kelly came across with the game's first run.
The Mines' offense came to life in the third, using singles by Stefanie Brunello, who stole second, and Kendall Murphy to tie the game. Katie Leiker followed by punching another hit into right field, scoring Murphy for a 2-1 edge.
Castillo came on to get the final out of the inning and she kept the Orediggers in check for the rest of the game. The freshman from Kingsville piled up nine strikeouts against just one walk and three hits while keeping TAMUK's deficit to just a single run.
"Obviously she's had success in the past," said Nicholson of Castillo, "but for a freshman to come in and take everything in stride and be as dominant as she was this weekend, its great to see. As she continues to get more experience, I think she'll keep getting better and better."
Junior Arabella Acosta-Cantu (Corpus Christi, Texas) started off the Javelina comeback with a walk to lead-off the sixth and took third when sophomore Anastasia Leibas (Del Valle, Texas) singled, with Leibas also moving to second on the play. Freshmen Veronica Chavez (Tempe, Ariz.) and Jackie De Los Santos (Kingsville, Texas) then each waited out a base on balls, forcing in the tying run and bringing up another freshman, Makenzie Mays (Conroe, Texas). For the second time in three days, the Conroe native ripped a go-ahead triple, this one clearing the bases for three RBIs and staking TAMUK to a 5-2 lead. Mays increased the margin to four runs when she touched home on an Amber Reyes (Edinburg, Texas) groundout. Castillo took care of the rest, securing the win.
Augustana vs. TAMUK
A first inning rally got the Javelinas on the board quickly, as a walk to Cervantes and a Chavez single brought up Leibas with two on and two out. A passed ball on a strikeout and an error brought in the first run of frame and two batters later, De Los Santos laced a single into center for a pair of RBIs to stake TAMUK to 3-0 lead.
After being held off the board in the first two innings, the Vikings broke through in the third with a single followed by a run-scoring double courtesy of Ashley Mickschl. In the fifth, Augustana used another RBI double, this one from Christian Pickett to creep within one run.
Breanna Smith took over for starter Victoria Carrion (Robstown, Texas) in the fifth after Carrion had allowed one earned run through four-plus frames. Smith entered with a run already in and a runner on second and immediately induced a line drive double play and a groundout to snuff out the rally. She then secured her first save of the season by retiring the side in order in each of the last two innings.
The Javelinas will look to maintain their early season momentum when they open Hubert Field for first time on Tuesday for a doubleheader with St. Edward's, which will begin at 4 p.m. Fans can keep with Javelina softball throughout the season by following @TAMUKSB and @JavelinaSports on Twitter, @JavelinaSports on Instagram, liking Javelina Sports on Facebook and visiting Javelinaathletics.com.
