DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Four different Javelinas drove in multiple runs, including freshman Natalie Rodriguez (Edinburg, Texas), who finished with three hits, three RBIs and two runs scored, and the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team slugged their way to a 14-6 triumph over the Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers on Saturday afternoon at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium in Dahlonega, Ga. The Javelinas dropped the first game of the day to the No. 7 North Georgia Nighthawks, 6-1.

"I thought we played pretty well," said coach Craig Nicholson. "A few defensive miscues cost us in game one, but our offense responded really well in game two."

TAMUK vs. Wisconsin-Parkside

The Javelinas started the slugfest by loading the bases in the first inning and the initial run scored when sophomore Matisen Onofrei (Mesa, Ariz.) drew a walk. The next batter was sophomore Makenzie Mays (Conroe, Texas) and she cracked a single into left that tallied two more to make the score 3-0.

An answer came swiftly from the Rangers, who used six hits and two walks in the top of the second to put together a five-run rally, only to see that lead quickly disappear. The first hitters reached for the Javs to start their half of the second and, after a fielder's choice, sophomore Jackie De Los Santos (Kingsville, Texas) delivered a run-scoring safety. Back-to-back doubles then came courtesy of junior Anastasia Leibas (Del Valle, Texas) and Rodriguez to restore TAMUK to the lead at 7-5.

After a UWP homer started the third, freshman Saidi Castillo (Kingsville, Texas) took the mound in relief and shut down the Rangers' offense. In earning her ninth victory, Castillo tossed 3 1/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit ball and struck out three while the Javelinas offense continued to tack on.

In the fourth, Rodriguez roped a two-run double into left and later scored to put her team's run total at 10. The fifth inning saw freshman Kaitlyn Smith (Seguin, Texas) and junior Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) come across to put the Blue and Gold ahead, 12-6 and the Javelinas concluded their day with two more runs in the sixth to cap off their run-rule win. 

TAMUK vs. North Georgia

Kelly led off the game with her third career triple and got the Javs on the board two batters later following a Leibas single, but the Nighthawks wasted no time tying the score in their half of the first courtesy of a Kaylee Womack solo homer.

The home team moved in front in the third thanks to a two-run double by Madison Simmons and they tacked one more in the fourth. In inning No. 5, an error brought in Olivia Sinquefield and Shelby Hammontree added UNG's sixth run on a sacrifice fly.

After TAMUK's first-inning score, the Nighthawks' Kylee Smith prevented the Javelinas from pushing anymore runs across. Smith allowed five hits and one walk while striking out seven in a complete game.

The Javelinas will close out their time in Georgia on Sunday, when they'll play UWP at 9 a.m. and UNG at 11 a.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.