KINGSVILLE, Texas – Junior Breanna Smith (San Antonio, Texas) recorded the fourth straight shutout for the No. 5 Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team, the program's longest shutout streak in 17 years, and the Javelinas completed a three-game sweep of the Western New Mexico Mustangs with an 8-0 triumph on Saturday afternoon in Lone Star Conference action at Hubert Field in Kingsville, Texas.
The last time the Javelinas tossed four consecutive shutouts was in 2002, when they blanked seven opponents in-a-row. Overall, Smith and freshman Saidi Castillo (Kingsville, Texas) have thrown 26 consecutive scoreless innings and allowed 15 hits in TAMUK's last five games.
As a team, the first-place Javs now own a five-game win streak, are 17-4 in LSC play and 31-5 overall, their highest win total since 2009. Western New Mexico stands at 3-18 and 4-27 overall.
For the third consecutive game, the Javelinas took a first-inning lead, this time thanks to senior Victoria Schoonard-Saborio (Elk Grove, Calif.), who popped a two-run homer over the left field fence, her fourth dinger of the year.
While the Mustangs were able to get runners on in each inning, Smith (10-2) didn't allow a Mustang player to reach third base all afternoon. She also received a little help from her defense in the third, when a perfect throw from senior Roxy Chapa (McAllen, Texas), cut down Tycee Coplan trying to steal second. Overall, Smith allowed just two hits over six innings and struck out six. She's now won at least 10 games in each of her first three seasons in Kingsville.
TAMUK's lineup went back to work in the fourth, starting the frame with consecutive singles from freshmen Amber Reyes (Edinburg, Texas) and Matisen Onofrei (Mesa, Ariz.) before a walk loaded the bases. Reyes scored her team's third run on a wild pitch and freshman Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) proceeded to slap a two-run single into right for a 5-0 lead.
The three runs that capped off TAMUK's 31st win of 2019 came in the sixth and sophomore Claire Chernosky (Sugar Land, Texas) produced the first tally with an RBI double. The Javelinas then loaded the bases again and sophomore Anastasia Leibas (Del Valle, Texas) drew a walk to force in the run that made the score 7-0. The final blow was struck by freshman Veronica Chavez (Tempe, Ariz.), who lined a single into right-center, plating Kelly for the run-rule victory.
TAMUK will be at Hubert Field again on Tuesday for a doubleheader against Texas A&M International that will begin at 5 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.
