KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Javelina lineup broke out for six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, erasing a 2-0 deficit on their way to a 6-2 victory over the St. Mary's Rattlers in game one of a doubleheader on Tuesday night at Hubert Field in Kingsville, Texas. The Rattlers managed to split the twin bill by winning the second game, 5-3, in 10 innings.
TAMUK's loss in the nightcap snapped a four-game win streak, but their record of 20-3 still matches the program's best record ever through 23 games. St. Mary's now stands at 14-9.
GAME ONE
The Rattlers got on the board in the first inning, using three straight singles, the last of which was provided by Kristal Salinas, to take a slim, 1-0 lead. For five innings, pitcher Staci Johns made that lead stand up.
She retired the Javelinas in order in the first, third and fifth frames and, in the fourth, escaped unscathed after allowing the first two batters of the inning to reach. Her team gave her a second run to work with in the fifth when an error, a single and a sacrifice put players on second and third and Abigale Carney lifted a sacrifice fly into left.
That lead dissolved amidst a flurry of hits for the Javs in the sixth. A lead-off single by freshman Amber Reyes (Edinburg, Texas) was followed by a fielder's choice, then freshman Veronica Chavez (Tempe, Ariz.) singled to put runners on first and third with one out. Senior Roxy Chapa (McAllen, Texas) brought her team within one run with another knock and when sophomore Anastasia Leibas (Del Valle, Texas) laced a double off the wall in left, pinch-runner Yvonne Castillo (Leander, Texas) came across to tie the score.
The go-ahead hit came from senior Victoria Schoonard-Saborio (Elk Grove, Texas), whose infield hit sent sophomore Lisa Sosa (Corpus Christi, Texas) home with a 3-2 lead. The next big knock was provided by freshman Makenzie Mays (Conroe, Texas), who lofted a 1-0 pitch into the right field corner, then hustled it into a two-run triple. Mays finished off the rally when she scored on a safety squeeze bunt by sophomore Claire Chernosky (Sugar Land, Texas). Freshman Saidi Castillo (12-1) permitted only a one out single in the seventh as she secured her 12th win.
GAME TWO
The first four innings of the nightcap were all about starters Alex McLennan and Breanna Smith (San Antonio, Texas). McLennan allowed a pair of infield singles to start the bottom of the first, then retired 12 of the next 13 batters she faced, including perfect innings in the second and third.
The only runner to reach against Smith in the first two innings got on via an error and she easily worked around a lead-off single in the fourth by retiring the next three hitters.
The Javelinas broke through against McLennan in the fifth thanks to consecutive hits. The first was an inning-opening double from Schoonard-Saborio and that was followed by a Mays safety to put TAMUK on the board.
St. Mary's bounced back in the sixth, when a single and a stolen base brought up Staci Johns with a runner in scoring position. She produced a game-tying single and a subsequent error gave the visitors first and third with one out. That was followed by a fielder's choice that scored Tiffany Licon with the go-ahead run.
Once again, it was Schoonard-Saborio and Mays at the center of a TAMUK rally, this one a game-tying effort in the seventh. After TAMUK's second baseman reached on an infield single and took second on an error, Mays produced her second triple of the night to knot the score at 2-2. Unfortunately for the Javs, a fielder's choice and a groundout forced extra innings.
After two scoreless frames, the Rattlers broke the tie in the seventh, utilizing the runner placed at second to start the inning for the first tally, which scored on a Licon single. A walk and another hit plated the second run and groundout brought in Licon for a 5-2 lead. The Javelinas scored a run brought up the tying run in their half of the 10th, but Chavez flied out to left to end the game.
Lone Star Conference play resumes for the Javelinas when they visit the Cameron Aggies for a three-game series, which begins on Friday with a 6 p.m. contest. 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.
