KINGSVILLE, Texas – Despite holding leads in both contests, the No. 15 Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team saw two games slip away by scores of 5-3 and 4-3 against the No. 18 West Texas A&M Lady Buffs on Sunday afternoon in Lone Star Conference action at Hubert Field in Kingsville, Texas.
This marks the first time the Javs have suffered consecutive losses in 2021 and the conference record now stands at 9-3 with an overall mark of 16-5. WT is 18-6 and 6-6.
GAME ONE
A lead-off triple by junior Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) got the day started for the Javelinas and she scored the game's first run one batter later on a groundout. The Lady Buffs immediately answered with a run of their own in the second and took the lead in the third thanks to a sacrifice fly from Alyx Cordell.
TAMUK rebounded in their half of the third when Kelly led-off with a single and she later came across on a Leibas double into right-center. Freshman Natalie Rodriguez (Edinburg, Texas) followed with her own two-bagger to plate Leibas and put the Javs up by run.
Unfortunately, the Javelina lead wouldn't last. WT tied the game on an RBI single from Cordell in the fifth and used single runs in the sixth and seventh go up by a pair. The Javelinas had a chance to rally in the seventh, loading the bases with nobody out, but a double play and a groundout ended the game.
GAME TWO
The Lady Buffs grabbed the lead first in game two on back-to-back two out singles that each plated a run. Through five innings, WT starter Kyra Lair held that lead, permitting only one run that crossed the plate on a Rodriguez double in the fourth.
In the sixth, the Javelinas found life with two outs, when Rodriguez lined her third double of the day off the wall in left-center. The next hitter was sophomore Matisen Onofrei (Mesa, Ariz.) and she sent a screaming line drive over the left field wall for a 3-2 advantage.
The Javs got within one out of a win in the seventh, but WT strung together consecutive hits that each brought in runs and put the visitors in front again. TAMUK was unable respond in their half of the seventh, going down in order to end the day.
The Javelinas now must hit the road for a doubleheader on Friday against UT Permian Basin that will begin at 3 p.m. Stay current with Javelina softball by following @TAMUKSB and @JavelinaSports on both Twitter and Instagram, liking the Javelina Sports Facebook page, subscribing to the Javelina Athletics YouTube Channel and visiting Javelinaathletics.com. Watch your Javelinas live today on the Javelina Sports Network sponsored by Mendoza's Pharmacy.
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