KINGSVILLE, Texas – Fueled by an offense that produced four home runs, the unranked Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team completed a three-game sweep of No. 2 A&M-Commerce, taking both games of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon by scores of 10-7 and 3-1 in Lone Star Conference action at Hubert Field in Kingsville, Texas.
The second-ranked Lions are the highest-ranked team the Javelinas have swept in program history and TAMUK's 19-2 record matches the team's best 21 game start ever, as the 2001 team also won 19 of its first 21. In the LSC, the Javs are 7-2. Commerce is 6-3 in league play and 17-6 overall.
"I thought we battled all weekend," said coach Craig Nicholson. "We played two really tight ballgames all the way through and we had a chance to blow them out in game two and they fought their way back. I'm proud of the way we played and competed. We were resilient when they scored and we tended to answer right away. To me, that's the mark of a good ballclub and we're learning how to be good."
GAME ONE
The opening contest was all about offense and TAMUK's seven-run third inning gave them a lead they'd never relinquish.
Sophomore Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) and freshman Amber Reyes (Edinburg, Texas) lit the fuse in the first inning as Kelly drew a walk and Reyes singled and each player stole a base, giving the home team second and third with nobody out. Kelly and Reyes both scampered home on groundouts for a 2-0 lead.
Senior Victoria Schoonard-Saborio (Elk Grove, Calif.) upped her team's lead to three in the second by blasting her third homer of the year, but the Lions made up the deficit in the third. Three walks and a hit batter forced home the first run and a two-run single by Vanessa Muro brought in the tying runs as the visitors evened the score.
That tie didn't last long, as another lead-off walk to Kelly touched off the day's largest rally. The sophomore used a stolen base and a passed ball to reach third and came across when freshman Jory Cervantes (Pflugerville, Texas) lined a single into center. Another knock, this one from freshman Veronica Chavez (Tempe, Ariz.), brought up Roxy Chapa (McAllen, Texas). The senior catcher took the opportunity to launch her team-leading fifth home run of the season and the three-run shot made the score 7-3.
The Hogs weren't done however. After sophomore Anastasia Leibas (Del Valle, Texas) hustled out a triple, Schoonard-Saborio doubled and freshman Makenzie Mays (Conroe, Texas) finished the seven-run outburst by clanging a two-run round-tripper off the foul pole in left, her first long ball in the Blue and Gold.
The Lions crept to within five in the fifth, starting the frame with a single and a double and both runners scored on outs by the next two batters. In the sixth, Kayla Kilcrease's two-run double cut the deficit to 10-7 and junior Breanna Smith (6-1) (San Antonio, Texas) was relieved by freshman Saidi Castillo (Kingsville, Texas). Castillo recorded the final out of the sixth and allowed only a walk in the seventh to log her second save of 2019.
GAME TWO
The offenses were brought back under control in the second matchup, thanks to outstanding pitching on both sides, but TAMUK's lineup still provided the clutch hitting needed to seal the sweep.
After two innings, the score was even at one. The Javs got on the board in the first thanks to a sacrifice fly from Chavez and Commerce answered when Kinsie Hebler circled the bases.
Following a scoreless third, Castillo stranded two runners in scoring position in the fourth and Chavez began the bottom of the stanza with a single. Two batters later, Leibas sent a 1-1 offering sailing over the wall in center and the sophomore's second dinger of 2019 staked her team to a 3-1 advantage.
After four innings of one-run ball, Castillo was relieved by junior Victoria Carrion (Robstown, Texas) in the fifth and the new hurler quickly put up a zero. Carrion received some help from her defense in the fifth after a single, a stolen base and a strikeout brought up, who hit a bouncer to shortstop. Leibas' throw to first was in time to retire Hebler and when Jodie Hill attempted to go from second to third on the throw, she was gunned down by Chavez to end the frame. All that remained was a 1-2-3 seventh and the Javs had their sweep.
Two more home games are set for Tuesday for the Javelinas, who will play a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. against the St. Mary's Rattlers. To stay up-to-date with Javelina softball all season long, follow @TAMUKSB and @JavelinaSports on Twitter, @JavelinaSports on Instagram, like Javelina Sports on Facebook and visit Javelinaathletics.com.
