PORTALES, N.M. – Senior Kaylee Dietrich (Phoenix, Ariz.) homered twice and drove in six runs and junior Jory Cervantes (Pflugerville, Texas) racked up six hits as the No. 9 Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team pounded the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds, 10-0 and 13-2, in a doubleheader sweep on Friday in Lone Star Conference action at the Greyhound Softball Field in Portales, N.M.
The Javelinas continue to build on the best start in program history and now own a 24-3 overall mark with an 8-2 LSC record. ENMU is 8-18 and 1-9 in league games.
"I thought our offense was good today for the most part," said coach Craig Nicholson. "Loren [Kelly] and Jory were on base a bunch and the middle of our order had a lot of opportunities to drive in runs. Beth [Montes] pitched great and Carissa [De Los Santos] battled through some early control issues and did a nice job."
GAME ONE
The Blue and Gold offense immediately went to work in the top of the first, with singles by the first two hitters setting the table for junior Matisen Onofrei (Mesa, Ariz.). On a 2-1 pitch, Onofrei hit a rocket over the center field wall to stake her team to a 3-0 edge.
One frame later, the Javs blew the game wide open. After ENMU retired the lead-off hitter, but the next three batters reached to pack the sacks. Two batters later, Onofrei punched a two-run single through the middle and Dietrich then struck for the first time, belting a three-run homer that made the score 8-0. Singles by sophomores Aaliyah Ortiz (San Antonio, Texas) and Natalie Rodriguez (Edinburg, Texas) tallied the game's final two runs.
In the circle for the Javelinas was sophomore Beth Montes (San Antonio, Texas), and she ensured ENMU could not respond to TAMUK's onslaught. Montes did not allow a hit until an Azalea Martinez single in the fourth inning and that would be the only safety the Greyhounds could muster off the Javelina starter. The sophomore from San Antonio retired the side in order in three of the game's five innings, didn't walk a batter and struck out six.
GAME TWO
The Javelina lineup got off to another fast start in game two, this time tallying eight runs in the opening inning.
A pair of Greyhound errors and a single led to the contest's first run, then another ENMU miscue brought up Dietrich with two on and one out. The senior from Phoenix then smashed her second round-tripper of the day to make the score 4-0. Ortiz immediately followed with a four-bagger of her own and when Rodriguez scored later in the frame on a fielder's choice and Cervantes added a two-run single, the Javs had posted a first inning snowman.
The home team found a way to push across two runs in their half of the first, but that was all they would get off freshman Carissa De Los Santos (Kingsville, Texas). On her way to earning her fifth win of the year, De Los Santos allowed only four hits and racked up eight strikeouts. She struck out the side to strand two runners in the third and that started a streak of 12 consecutive hitters she set down to close out the game.
The final rally of the day for the Javs came in the sixth, when, with two outs, Ortiz singled, then Rodriguez picked up her second RBI of the day with a double. Freshman Rylee Oborski (Salado, Texas) brought in TAMUK's 10th with a single and scurried home on a knock from senior Jennifer Giesey (Crystal Lake, Ill.) and an error. Giesey touched home on a Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) single and Kelly put up the day's final run on a hit by sophomore Kayla Gonzales (San Antonio, Texas).
The Javelinas have one more stop on their road trip and it's in Canyon, Texas, where they'll play the No. 6 West Texas A&M Lady Buffs on Sunday. 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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