TUCSON, Ariz. – Sophomore Jory Cervantes (Pflugerville, Texas) collected four hits and sophomore Matisen Onofrei (Mesa, Ariz.) and junior Claire Chernosky (Sugar Land, Texas) combined to drive in seven runs as the No. 2 Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team slugged their way past the Fort Lewis Skyhawks, 12-4 on Sunday afternoon on the final day of the Cactus Classic in Tucson, Ariz. With this victory, the Javelinas improved to 11-4.
"We did a good job of getting good pitches to hit," said coach Craig Nicholson. "Once we tied the game up, we started to relax and take some good swings."
While it was the Javelina offense that would rule the day, the Skyhawks were the first team to get on the board. A McKenna Hefl double and a Pilar Gutier single both plated runs for FLC in the first inning and Hefl drove in her second run of the day in the next frame, putting her team ahead 3-0 going into the third.
The TAMUK offense came to life in the third, scoring three times to erase the deficit and tie the game. Hits courtesy of junior Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) and Cervantes were followed by a hit batter to load the bases and Onofrei then wore one to force in a run. Cervantes made the score 3-2, coming across when Chernosky banged into a fielder's choice and sophomore Makenzie Mays (Conroe, Texas) dropped an RBI single into left to pull the Javs even. During TAMUK's third inning rally, Kelly stole her 90th career base as a Javelina, which tied Cassie Anderson for the all-time program record.
Four more runs crossed the plate for the Blue and Gold in the fourth, which started with an error, a sacrifice and a hit. A passed ball allowed sophomore Yvonne Castillo (Leander, Texas) to dent home plate with the go-ahead run and a walk and a single followed to load the bases. Chernosky cashed in the opportunity with a two-run single to center and Onofrei tallied her team's seventh run with a steal of home during the next at-bat for a 7-3 Javelina advantage.
In the fifth, an error, a single and a double steal brought up Castillo with runners on second and third and she slapped a single into right for a pair of RBIs. Cervantes soon followed with her fourth hit of the day and Onofrei came up two batters later. She promptly ended the game by rocketing a three-run homer to left, securing the Javelinas' 11th win.
Opening day for the Javelinas at Hubert Field is Saturday, when they'll host a doubleheader against Texas A&M International. The day's first pitch will be thrown at 1 p.m. You can keep up with everything related to Javelina softball all season long by following @TAMUKSB on Twitter, @JavelinaSports on Twitter and Instagram, like Javelina Sports on Facebook and subscribe to the Javelina Athletics YouTube Channel. Watch your Javelinas live today on the Javelina Sports Network sponsored by Mendoza's Pharmacy.
