KINGSVILLE, Texas – Senior Jennifer Giesey (Crystal Lake, Ill. ) homered three times and four Javelina pitchers combined to allow to just two runs as the No. 3 Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team swept the Texas A&M International Dustdevils in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon by scores of 3-1 and 4-1 in Lone Star Conference action at the Dustdevil Softball Field in Laredo, Texas.
These two victories put the Javelinas at 43-8 overall and 23-7 in the Lone Star Conference, tied with Lubbock Christian for the second-best mark in league play. The Dustdevils finish the year 16-35 and 9-21 in conference.
"I thought we pitched well and our defense was really good," said coach Craig Nicholson. "We scuffled a little offensively but did just enough in both games to pull away late."
GAME ONE
The Javelinas jumped in front thanks to a two-out rally in the second inning that began with a Kaylee Dietrich (Phoenix, Ariz.) single and a walk to sophomore Natalie Rodriguez (Edinburg, Texas). When freshman Rylee Oborski (Salado, Texas) sent a hit through the middle, pinch-runner Sarah Montes (San Antonio, Texas) sprinted home for a 1-0 lead.
Two more Blue and Gold tallies came across in the third, the first coming on Giesey's first round-tripper of the day. After singles by senior Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) and junior Jory Cervantes (Pflugerville, Texas) put two on, sophomore Aaliyah Ortiz (San Antonio, Texas) recorded TAMUK's fourth hit of the frame, another single that sent Kelly scampering home with her team's third run.
That was all the offense the Javs could muster and it was on junior Saidi Castillo (Kingsville, Texas) and freshman Carissa De Los Santos (Kingsville, Texas) to make the 3-0 advantage stand up. Castillo stranded runners in each of the first three innings, including a two-on, one-out jam she escaped in the third.
In the fourth, the Dustdevils loaded the bases with one out and a fielder's choice brought in the home team's first run. After a walk packed the sacks again, De Los Santos entered and induced a popup to end the threat. From there, she set down nine of the next 10 to lock up the win.
GAME TWO
Each team got on the scoreboard in the second, TAMUK courtesy of a fielder's choice hit into by Giesey that scored Montes, TAMIU on a Briana Arredondo home run. The score remained tied until the fifth, when Giesey led off with a blast over the left field wall that nudged the Javs in front, 2-1.
More Javelina power showed up in the sixth, when Rodriguez sent one out to left for her seventh four-bagger of the year and Giesey tacked on an insurance run with her third solo shot of the afternoon in the seventh. Giesey is the first Javelina to homer three times in one day since Roxy Chapa hit three dingers in a twin bill against Huston-Tillotson on April 5th, 2016.
After the Dustdevils scored in the second, TAMUK starter Beth Montes (San Antonio, Texas) retired nine of the 10 hitters she faced over the next three innings, until a sixth inning jam brought sophomore Lizette Del Angel (Robstown, Texas) into the circle. With two on and nobody out, Del Angel retired the next three hitters, then cruised through a scoreless seventh to earn her third save.
The Javelinas must now wait for the LSC Tournament bracket to be announced to find out their next opponent. The tournament will begin on Thursday in Tyler, Texas. 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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