KINGSVILLE, Texas – Freshman Saidi Castillo (Kingsville, Texas) twirled a two-hit shutout for her 19th win to help the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team take game one of a doubleheader from the Texas A&M International Dustdevils by a score of 4-0 on Tuesday night at Hubert Field in Kingsville, Texas. The Dustdevils bounced back to steal game two, 6-5.
The loss in game two snapped a six-game win streak for the Javelinas, who now own an overall record of 32-6. TAMIU stands at 19-26.
GAME ONE
Castillo kept International's offense in check the entire game, with the two hits she allowed representing the only runners the visitors would put on base. TAMUK's freshman pitcher retired the first 12 batters she faced and also didn't issue a walk while striking out eight.
This was Castillo's fourth complete game shutout of the season and, with 19 victories, she's one win away from becoming the program's first 20 game winner since Courtney Rigamonti in 2009.
The first bit of run support for Castillo came in the third, an inning that freshman Makenzie Mays (Conroe, Texas) started by being hit by a pitch. Two batters later, sophomore Claire Chernosky (Sugar Land, Texas) battled through a 12-pitch at-bat before lining a double off the wall in center to tally Mays for 1-0 lead.
The insurance for the Javelinas came in the fifth, when Mays and freshman Jory Cervantes (Pflugerville, Texas) reached on singles, bringing up pinch-hitter Matisen Onofrei (Mesa, Ariz.). On a 3-2 pitch, Onofrei popped a three-run homer over the left field fence for a 4-0 advantage and Castillo would do the rest to lock down the win.
GAME TWO
Unlike in the opener, neither offense has trouble getting on the scoreboard in game two. Maya Paul opened the game with a solo homer for TAMIU and a bases-loaded walk later in the frame put the score at 2-0.
The Javelinas had a swift response in the bottom of the frame and sophomore Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) started the inning by singling and stealing second. Senior Victoria Schoonard-Saborio (Elk Grove, Calif.) drove in the first run with a rope down the left field run for an RBI double. Sophomore Anastasia Leibas (Del Valle, Texas) then put the Javelinas in the lead, crushing a two-run homer to left, her seventh of the year.
Kelly would steal one more base before the night was over, putting her season total at 31, one short of the program record for stolen bases in a season.
TAMUK's lead stood up until the fourth inning when a pair of singles brought up Paul with two outs. The sophomore lifted her second home run of the game to left, pushing the Dustdevils back in front, 5-3.
The Javs and Dustdevils exchanged runs in the fourth, keeping the difference between the teams at two runs. The Javelinas crept to within one run in the sixth, as two walks and hit batter loaded the bases and a wild pitch tallied freshman Amber Reyes (Edinburg, Texas), but the tying run was left stranded on third. A lead-off walk and a one out gave TAMUK one more chance in the seventh, but consecutive groundouts allowed TAMIU to hold on for the win.
A road trip to San Angelo, Texas is up next for the Javelinas, who'll play three games against the Angelo State Rams beginning on Friday night with a 6 p.m. contest. Fans can stay up-to-date with Javelina softball throughout the season by following @TAMUKSB and @JavelinaSports on Twitter, @JavelinaSports on Instagram, liking Javelina Sports on Facebook and visit Javelinaathletics.com.
