SHAWNEE, Okla. – Freshman Saidi Castillo (Kingsville, Texas) and junior Victoria Carrion (Robstown, Texas) combined to craft a three-hit shutout and the No. 15 Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team bankrupted the Oklahoma Baptist Lady Bison, 4-0 on Monday evening at Lady Bison Park in Shawnee, Okla.
With this win, the Javelinas are on a run of three straight victories and their overall record stands at 23-4. On the road, they are 7-2. "I think the biggest thing [about our success on the road]," said coach Craig Nicholson, "is that good pitching travels well. Aside from that, our offense is beginning to execute at a high level, so that's a good combination." OBU is now 8-14.
Castillo (14-2) got the start and kept the Bison off the board for the first 4 2/3 innings. She allowed baserunners in each frame, but the Bison never got a runner to third base and Castillo stranded players in scoring position in each of the first two frames. Overall, she permitted three hits and four walks, but also struck out five and lowered her season ERA to 2.09. Her Lone Star Conference-leading strikeout total now stands at 114.
Two days after bludgeoning the Cameron Aggies for 17 runs and 26 hits in a doubleheader, TAMUK's lineup took a more measured approach and slowly built a substantial lead.
Sophomore Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) lead-off the game with a single and stole second. Three batters later, sophomore Anastasia Leibas (Del Valle, Texas) smacked a double into right to give the Javs the early lead.
One more run came in in the third and again it was Kelly starting the rally. Her one out double put a runner in scoring position for senior Roxy Chapa (McAllen, Texas) and TAMUK's catcher took advantage with a run-scoring single, increasing the visitors' lead to 2-0.
The Javelinas also pushed across single runs in the fourth and fifth. A double by senior Victoria Schoonard-Saborio (Elk Grove, Calif.), who immediately stole third, and a single by freshman Jory Cervantes (Pflugerville, Texas) tallied the third run and an RBI single courtesy of freshman Amber Reyes (Edinburg, Texas) upped the lead to 4-0.
The Bison threatened to get back in the game in fifth thanks to a one-out walk and a single, but Castillo and Carrion combined to snuff out the rally and keep the score frozen. After plunking the lead-off batter in the sixth, Carrion retired the last six hitters of the night and was credited with her second save.
The Javelinas were originally scheduled to play two games against Oklahoma Christian on Tuesday afternoon, but, due to expected rain, both games have been cancelled. Up next for the Javs is a three-game series at home against Eastern New Mexico, which will begin on March 22nd. Keep up with Javelina softball throughout the 2019 season by following @TAMUKSB and @JavelinaSports on Twitter, @JavelinaSports on Instagram, liking Javelina Sports on Facebook and visit Javelinaathletics.com.
