KINGSVILLE, Texas-?The Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team was unable to overcome No. 21 St. Mary's as they were defeated 6-1 in a Lone Star Conference series finale at Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field on Wednesday.
The Javelinas (3-8, 0-3 LSC) were unable to get the offense going against the No. 21 Rattlers (13-4, 4-2 LSC), despite a quality start by junior Beth Montes.
Montes (3-2) was tagged with the loss after scattering five hits across seven innings with two strikeouts and allowing three earned runs. Jaydn Abrego (1-0) picked up her first win of the season
The Rattlers struck first, capitalizing on a Javelina miscue to claim a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. TAMUK then threatened in the bottom half with Gonzales smashing a two out double into the gap, but Abrego got the final out from the circle for the Rattlers sending the teams into the second stanza.
Montes bounced back tossing three clean innings, before walks by Onofrei and Vess pushed a runner in scoring position for Rodriguez who slapped a single through the middle of the infield. Riley Oborski, who entered as a pinch hitter for Onofrei, however, was called out at the plate keeping the Javelinas off the scoreboard.
Montes twirled another three-up-three-down top of the fifth, but the opposition broke through again in the sixth. Lauren Garza bunted her way to first, swiped second, and stole third prior to crossing the plate on a sac-fly by Reba Reyes.
Now leading, 2-0 the Rattlers again capitalized on a Javelina miscue, scoring four runs and increasing their lead to six in the top of the seventh.
With their backs against the wall, singles by Cervantes, Carr, and Gonzales loaded up the bases for Ortiz who was plunked, scoring the first Javelina run of the day. With no outs on the board and the bases still juiced, Catalina Cavazos induced a pop-up and struck out the final two Javelina hitters, securing a 6-1 win for her squad.
The Javelinas will look to bounce back as they head to Silver City, N.M. for a three-game slate against the Mustangs beginning Saturday at 12 p.m.
