KINGSVILLE, Texas – Junior Matisen Onofrei (Mesa, Ariz.) and freshman Aaliyah Ortiz (San Antonio, Texas) combined to drive in 11 runs and coach Craig Nicholson earned his 1,200th career win on a day when the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team notched a pair of victories over the Texas A&M-San Antonio Jaguars by scores of 15-0 and 14-2 on Tuesday evening at Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field in Kingsville, Texas.
The Javelinas have now reeled off six straight wins and are 30-5 on the season while the Jaguars are 14-18.
"I thought we did a really good job of having good at-bats," said coach Craig Nicholson, "especially early in both games. The game plan today was to get the starters a few at-bats in each game and get them out and make sure we're fairly well-rested heading into the weekend and I think we accomplished that."
GAME ONE
The day started with a seven-run first inning by the Javelinas and Onofrei began the scoring by cracking a two-run double into the right field corner and she scored one batter later on an Ortiz double. Sophomore Natalie Rodriguez (Edinburg, Texas) made score 4-0 with an RBI single to center and that was followed by run-scoring hit off the bat of freshman Rylee Oborski (Salado, Texas). A sacrifice fly courtesy of Jennifer Giesey (Crystal Lake, Ill.) and RBI triple from senior Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) capped the rally.
In the second, senior Kaylee Dietrich (Phoenix, Ariz.) crushed a two-run homer over the wall in left-center and the Javs continued pouring it on in the third, which began with a walk to Giesey and a Kytana Muniz (Harlingen, Texas) triple. Muniz came across on a Breanna Carr (Kingsville, Texas) sacrifice fly and, after the next two hitters reached, Ortiz blasted a three-run homer to left. The day's last run scored on an RBI single from freshman Sydney Christopher (Saginaw, Texas).
Sophomores Beth Montes (San Antonio, Texas) and Lizette del Angel (Robstown, Texas) were entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the Jaguars' offense in check and they combined to hold the visitors to just two hits. Montes and del Angel also didn't walk a batter and combined to record five strikeouts.
GAME TWO
The Javelinas had another busy first inning the second contest, putting the first two runners on before Kayla Gonzales (San Antonio, Texas) got the home team on the board with a sacrifice fly. Onofrei and Ortiz then each drove runs with back-to-back doubles and a bases-loaded walk, as well as a run-scoring wild pitch accounted for the runs that made it 5-0 TAMUK after one frame.
Junior Jory Cervantes (Pflugerville, Texas) started another big inning in the second by singling, taking second on a passed ball and coming home a two-bagger courtesy of Gonzales. When Ortiz smacked a double into left, Gonzales trotted across and Dietrich tallied her team's eighth run on batter later with her second hit of the day. Dietrich pushed her team's lead to nine later in the frame by scoring on a groundout.
TAMUK tacked on two runs in the third on two-run double from Onofrei and an RBI single by Christopher and two double off the bat of sophomore Anissa Lechner (McKinney, Texas) push the Javs total to 14.
In the circle, junior Saidi Castillo (Kingsville, Texas) started the contest with three scoreless innings to earn her seventh win. She gave up just two hits and retired eight of the last nine batters she faced before giving way to freshman Carissa De Los Santos (Kingsville, Texas) who recorded the final six outs.
The schedule now sends the Javelinas on the road for four games, starting with a Friday doubleheader against No. 2 UT Tyler, scheduled for a 4 p.m. first pitch. 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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