AUSTIN – Senior Victoria Carrion (Robstown, Texas) threw 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, enabling the No. 19 Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team to come from behind and grab a 3-2 win over the St. Edward's Hilltoppers to close out a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon in Lone Star Conference action at Diane Daniels Field in Austin. SEU won the day's first game, 2-1.
This marks consecutive splits to begin LSC play for the Javelinas, who are 2-2 in conference and 14-7 overall. SEU has started 3-1 in the LSC and 12-6 on the season.
"It was a tough day for us offensively," said coach Craig Nicholson, "but we found a way to win in game two. I thought both teams pitched it really well. Our offensive execution was a little better in game two."
GAME ONE
While each game was low scoring, both teams scored in the first inning of each contest, starting with TAMUK grabbing the lead in the top of the initial frame. A single and a stolen base by junior Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) was followed by another single, this one from junior Anastasia Leibas (Del Valle, Texas). During the next at-bat TAMUK executed a double steal and Kelly crossed home plate for a 1-0 lead.
Quickly striking back were the Hilltoppers, who rallied with one out on a walk, a hit and a Karolina Rodriguez two-bagger that sent across the tying run. The go-ahead tally came one inning later, as two singles put runners at the corners and SEU then successfully executed their own double steal for a 2-1 edge.
TAMUK's Saidi Castillo spent the rest of the days trading zeroes with Reagan Carter, who refused to let the Javs tie the game. While Castillo permitted only five hits, one walk and struck out six, Carter's line included only three hits allowed and she piled up nine Ks. The Javelinas put a runner in scoring position in the seventh with one out, but Carter ended the opener by retiring the next two hitters.
GAME TWO
The second game again began with scoring by both sides and sophomore Jory Cervantes (Pflugerville, Texas) got things started. With one out, she reached on a bunt single, then moved to third after a fielder's choice and an error. When the next batter, sophomore Matisen Onofrei (Mesa, Ariz.), skied one into right, Cervantes scampered across with her team's first run.
Once again, the home team had an answer. Three consecutive safeties to start the frame brought up Rodriguez, who drove a sacrifice fly into center. An RBI groundout followed to put SEU ahead 2-1.
Each team had opportunities after that but the pitching staffs spent the next several innings keeping the score frozen. Carrion relieved Castillo in the fifth and completed a perfect inning, then watched her team tie things up in the sixth.
A walk to Onofrei and a single courtesy of sophomore Makenzie Mays (Conroe, Texas) brought up freshman Natalie Rodriguez (Edinburg, Texas). Rodriguez smacked a single through the middle and an Onofrei beat a path to the plate to pull the Javs level at 2-2.
Carrion kept things even until the eighth, when Rodriguez got on via a hit by pitch and another freshman Katherine Flores (Corpus Christi, Texas) stepped to the plate. Flores cracked a double into center, allowing to Rodriguez to come all the way around from first with the lead run. In the bottom of the eighth, Carrion received some help from her defense, as Rodriguez and sophomore Yvonne Castillo (Leander, Texas) combined to throw out the first hitter at third trying to stretch a double. TAMUK's hurler did the rest, locking down her first win.
Another road trip is next on the schedule for the Javelinas, who will be in Dahlonega, Ga. starting on Friday for the North Georgia Tournament. 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.
