SAN ANGELO, Texas – Sophomore Anastasia Leibas (Del Valle, Texas) bashed a pair of homers and drove in seven runs over the course of a doubleheader in which the No. 5 Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team earned a split, dropping game one, 7-6, but rebounding to take game two, 7-3, in Lone Star Conference action at Mayer Field in San Angelo, Texas on Friday night.

By splitting the twin bill, the Javelinas remained percentage points ahead of A&M-Commerce for first place in the LSC at 18-5 and 33-7 overall. Angelo State is 13-13 in the conference and 27-17 overall.

GAME ONE

The Javelina offense quickly seized the initiative in the opening frame of the first game, using three walks to bring up freshman Amber Reyes (Edinburg, Texas) with two outs. The Edinburg native laced a double to center, bringing in the game's first two runs. Two batters later, an error tallied Leibas for a 3-0 lead.

The Rambelles got one run back in their half of the first, but Leibas struck another blow for the Javs in the second, belting a three-run homer to right for a 6-1 edge.

Unfortunately for TAMUK, those would be the last runs they'd score in the opener and Angelo used a rally in the third to get back in the game. With two outs, two walks sandwiched around a single loaded the bases and the Rambelles patiently waited out three more walks to force in three runs and slice their deficit to a pair.

Another three-run outburst won the game for the home team in the seventh. A walk started the inning and it was followed by an Avery Zeigler triple. Two batters later, Ashlyn Lerma used a bunt to score the tying run and reach first base. Following another walk, Taegan Kirk applied the clincher with a game-winning double.

GAME TWO

Once again, TAMUK's offense went to work in the first inning in game two, breaking the ice thanks to two walks, a hit batter and an RBI single courtesy of senior Roxy Chapa (McAllen, Texas).

The Javelinas loaded the bases again in the second, this time using a single, a hit batter and another walk, to bring up Leibas. The sophomore from Del Valle sent her ninth homer of the year sailing over the right field fence for her second career grand slam and a 5-0 TAMUK lead. This also marks the second time in 2019 Leibas has homered in three consecutive games.

Each team pushed across a run in the third, TAMUK tacking on its sixth on an RBI single from senior Victoria Schoonard-Saborio (Elk Grove, Calif.), ASU getting on the board thanks to run-scoring knock by Hatty Shope.

Down by five, the Rambelles attempted to chip away at lead, scoring single runs in the fourth and fifth, with each tally coming on a solo homer. Junior Breanna Smith (11-2) (San Antonio, Texas) stopped the ASU comeback there, stranding a runner in scoring position in the sixth. An insurance run for TAMUK came in the seventh when sophomore Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) singled in Reyes and Smith brought the night to an end with a scoreless seventh.

The Javelinas and Rambelles will square off the rubber game of the series on Saturday. First pitch time is 2 p.m. 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.