KINGSVILLE, Texas – Freshman Saidi Castillo (Kingsville, Texas) and junior Breanna Smith (San Antonio, Texas) both twirled complete game shutouts and the No. 5 Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team swept a doubleheader against the Western New Mexico Mustangs by scores of 8-0 and 9-0 in Lone Star Conference action on Friday night at Hubert Field in Kingsville, Texas.

The Javelinas have now won four-in-a-row and remain in first place in the Lone Star Conference at 16-4 in league play and 30-5 overall. The Mustangs have lost eight straight and are 3-17 and 4-26 overall.

"I thought we pitched it really well," said coach Craig Nicholson. "We gave up three hits in two games, which is pretty good. I was a little disappointed with our offense in the first game. I just thought our approach at the plate wasn't great. We swung at a lot of balls, but we still managed to get some big hits and I thought our at-bats in the second game were a lot better. We just need to carry that over into tomorrow."

GAME ONE

Each game began with a first-inning rally by the home team and sophomore Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) sparked the Javelinas in game one with a lead-off single. Another single and a walk loaded the bases and an error brought in the night's first two runs. Sophomore Anastasia Leibas (Del Valle, Texas) tallied TAMUK's third run on a groundout and freshman Makenzie Mays (Conroe, Texas) upped the lead to 4-0 with an RBI infield hit.

The Javs tacked on one more in the second courtesy of an RBI groundout by Leibas and that proved to be more than enough breathing room for Castillo (18-3). Through five nearly spotless innings, the freshman hurler permitted only one hit, walked two and struck out six. She started the night by retiring eight-in-a-row and didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning.

Following a scoreless third, the Blue and Gold went back to work on offense in the fourth, and once again it was Leibas who did the clutch hitting. A triple to right-center plated both Kelly and senior Victoria Schoonard-Saborio (Elk Grove, Texas), making the score 7-0. The run that sealed the win came on an infield hit by Kelly one inning later.

GAME TWO

Kelly once again lit the fuse in game two, this time with a lead-off walk. A hit batter and a second base on balls loaded the bases and Leibas started the scoring by punching an RBI single through the middle. A passed ball tallied the second run and freshmen Veronica Chavez (Tempe, Ariz.) and Amber Reyes (Edinburg, Texas) followed with RBI singles. TAMUK's first inning lead reached six runs thanks to a wild pitch and a bases loaded walk to Schoonard-Saborio.

The third inning is when the Javs brought in their last three runs of the night. With one out, Schoonard-Saborio walked and senior Roxy Chapa (McAllen, Texas) singled, bringing up freshman Matisen Onofrei (Mesa, Ariz.), who laced an RBI double off the center field fence. Chavez followed with a sacrifice fly and Onofrei touched home when Reyes singled through the middle.

Smith (9-2) was every bit as sharp as Castillo in earning her ninth win. The Mustangs only managed two hits against her and drew one walk, but never put more than one runner on in an inning. Smith struck out five and also set down the last eight hitters she faced.

The Javelinas will have a chance to stretch their win streak to five on Saturday, when they take on the Mustangs in the series' finale, which will begin at 1 p.m. 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.