KINGSVILLE, Texas – Junior Breanna Smith (San Antonio, Texas) fired a one-hit complete game shutout for her 17th win and the No. 3 Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team locked up a berth in the Lone Star Conference Tournament Final with a 5-0 victory over the No. 19 Tarleton TexAnns on Saturday afternoon at Hubert Field in Kingsville, Texas.
The Javelinas will meet the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions in the tournament final on Saturday at 7 p.m.
TAMUK's offense quickly got on the board against Tarleton starter Tristan Bridges. Sophomore Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) was hit by a pitch to lead-off and stole second. Two batters later, sophomore Anastasia Leibas (Del Valle, Texas) lined a double into the left field corner to score Kelly with the game's first run. After a Roxy Chapa (McAllen, Texas) single, the Javs executed a double steal in which Leibas swiped home to make the score 2-0. The inning's third run scored when freshman Amber Reyes (Edinburg, Texas) drew a bases loaded walk.
Smith took over after that. She followed a 1-2-3 first by not allowing a hit through the next three frames. In the fourth, Smith walked a batter with one out, but the next hitter bounced one back to the mound and the junior started a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning.
A single in the fifth broke up Smith's no-hitter, but she stranded that runner on first before retiring the side in order in the sixth. After the Javelinas tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, Smith tossed a perfect seventh to cap her sixth shutout.
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.
