LAFAYETTE, La. - Texas A&M-Kingsville's softball team picked up its first win of the 2023 season, and the first under head coach Doug Eastman on day two of the Mardi Gras Invitational.
The No. 6 Javelinas (1-3), started their Saturday picking up a 3-0 win over Union (Tenn.), as Beth Montes delivered a gem from the circle, pitching a complete game shutout leading TAMUK to its first win of the season.
TAMUK's second game of the day was a difficult one, as the Javelinas fell to Harding in extra innings, 6-5.
The Blue and Gold went into the seventh inning holding a two-run lead but were unable to secure the win, before giving up two more runs in the eighth inning leading to the loss.
GAME 1: TAMUK-3, UNION - 0
The Javelinas were locked in a pitcher's duel through most of the matchup against the Bulldogs.
TAMUK and Union left runners stranded on multiple occasions, including the Bulldogs leaving runners on the corners in the third.
The Hogs broke the deadlock in the top of the sixth as Makena Riggs singled to centerfield scoring one, as Hailey Vess and Breana Carr followed with RBIs of their own to give TAMUK its first runs and lead of 2023.
Montes put on a masterclass in the circle for TAMUK earning her first win of the season, with a complete game shutout striking out 12 batters, only one shy of the junior's career high.
Union's Emily Claire Felder (0-1) picked up the loss, throwing a complete game herself, giving up eight hits, and three runs (two earned) while striking out five batters.
GAME 2: HARDING - 6, TAMUK - 5 (8 inn.)
The Hogs second game was a heartbreaker falling to the Lady Bisons in extra innings, 6-5.
Kayla Gonzales got things going early for TAMUK in the first inning with an RBI single to left field scoring Jory Cervantes. Later in the inning, Brylee Bilger hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in Kayla Gonzales and make the score 2-0 in favor of the Blue and Gold.
Harding answered with two runs of its own in the third and fourth innings, before Bilger delivered again, with a two run home run in the bottom of the sixth to bring the lead back to two, 4-2.
The Javs were unable to finish the Lady Bison off however, surrendering two runs in the top of the seventh sending the game to extra innings as TAMUK came up scoreless in the bottom half of the seventh.
HU, got two across in the eighth taking advantage of an infield error and an RBI triple.
TAMUK threatened a two-out rally in the bottom half, as Cervantes doubled to left field bringing Carr into score and cutting the deficit to one.
It was all for not though, as a ground out ended the rally ending the game, 6-5.
Carissa De Los Santos picked up the loss for the Javelinas going five innings giving up four runs, one earned, on seven hits, and getting one strikeout.
UP NEXT
The Javelinas finish play at the Mardi Gras Invitational tomorrow with two more games, against Southern Arkansas and Southeastern Oklahoma.
You can keep up with Javelina softball all year long 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.
