KINGSVILLE, Texas – Freshman Saidi Castillo (Kingsville, Texas) tossed a shutout in game one and junior Breanna Smith (San Antonio, Texas) allowed only four hits in game two as the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team swept a doubleheader from the Midwestern State Mustangs by scores of 2-0 and 4-2 in Lone Star Conference action at Hubert Field on Thursday night in Kingsville, Texas.
These two victories put the Javelinas only a half-game out of first place in the Lone Star Conference, 20-6 in league play and 35-8 overall. The Mustangs drop to 10-16 in the LSC and 19-18 overall.
"We found a way to win two games," said coach Craig Nicholson. "I don't feel like we played great. I thought we pitched it and played defense well. Offensively, we're scuffling a little bit. Part of that is their pitchers. They both did a good job. We got a couple big hits when we needed them in both games and found a way to win."
GAME ONE
Castillo and MSU's Misty Muniz combined to keep the scoreboard clean for the first three innings. Each team put runners on in every inning except for the top of the third, only to see the opposing pitcher strand baserunners each time.
The bottom of the fourth is when senior Roxy Chapa (McAllen, Texas) put an end to the scoreless tie, finishing an 11 pitch at-bat by blasting a solo homer to left, her eighth of the year. An insurance run for TAMUK came one frame later, when an error and a bunt put two on for sophomore Anastasia Leibas (Del Valle, Texas). Leibas lined an RBI single into left, providing Castillo with a two-run cushion in the late innings.
In both the sixth and seventh, the Mustangs threatened to ruin Castillo's shutout, but were repulsed. With second and third and one out in the sixth, TAMUK's started struck out Carli Woolsey and induced fly out from Kelsey Eropkin. Castillo used two more punchouts in the seventh to escape another two-on, one out jam and collect her 20th win.
The freshman from Kingsville is the program's first 20-game winner since Courtney Rigamonti in 2009.
GAME TWO
The second game was also scoreless through three innings, with Smith and Abbie Lancaster matching zeroes. They allowed just one hit until the fourth, which was once again when the Javs broke through.
A base hit by Leibas was quickly followed by a steal of second, courtesy of pinch-runner Yvonne Castillo (Leander, Texas). A walk and a groundout put runners on second third and freshman Makenzie Mays (Conroe, Texas) plated the game's first two runs with a single down the left field line.
The sides exchanged two run rallies starting in the bottom of the fifth, which sophomore Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) began with a bunt single. Senior Victoria Schoonard-Saobrio (Elk Grove, Texas) tallied Kelly with a double, was sent to third on obstruction and scored her team's fourth run on a wild pitch.
This time the Mustangs had an answer, however. Three straight singles started the sixth and brought in MSU's first run of the evening and two batters later, Ashley Turner touched home on a sacrifice bunt to make the score 4-2 and bring up the tying run, but Smith would not allow another baserunner. A fly ball to center ended the sixth and the Mustangs went down in order in the seventh to close out TAMUK's second win of the night.
The Javelinas will have an opportunity to sweep their series against MSU and move back into first place in the LSC when they play on Senior Day on Friday. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. Javelina fans can keep with Blue and Gold softball by following @TAMUKSB and @JavelinaSports on Twitter, @JavelinaSports on Instagram, liking Javelina Sports on Facebook and visit Javelinaathletics.com.
