KINGSVILLE, Texas — The Texas A&M University-Kingsville Javelina softball team got off to a rough start in its final Lone Star Conference series of the regular season, after dropping Game 1 of a doubleheader to the Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds and falling behind in the second.
While trailing by two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 2, the Javelinas' Lindsey Evans and Kayla Gonzales hit back-to-back home runs to help complete a late inning rally to secure a win and a 0-3, 6-4 split with the Greyhounds on Friday night at Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field.
After an error in the outfield by the Greyhounds (24-22, 17-21LSC) with two outs extended the bottom of the sixth inning and lead-off batter Breana Carr reached on a single, Evans stepped to the plate with the Javelinas (28-21, 22-19 LSC) down 4-2 and belted a three-run shot over the centerfield wall to take the lead.
"We got a break and we hadn't been getting many breaks," Javelinas head coach Orlando Salinas said. "In this game, you need to get a break here and there. We've been playing some really good ball, but we've been losing (close) games. We got a break with two outs in left field and Lindsey came up and said 'Coach, I want some redemption. I want one more at-bat with her.' Then, she hit a bomb and we took back the lead — it was awesome."
After Evans helped the Javelinas take the lead back, Gonzales followed immediately with a solo shot of her own to provide the Javelinas with some cushion for starting pitcher Jordyn Rodriguez to secure the victory.
It's a victory the Javelinas are hoping to parlay into much-needed late-season momentum.
"The energy and everything changed for our team (after the home run)," Evans said. "We were in the gutter, but we kept fighting and kept battling throughout the start of this series — I'm glad we found one.
"Hopefully we take this momentum into tomorrow and hopefully win the series, go to conference and get into the regional tournament."
In Game 1, the Javelinas were plagued by some early missed opportunities.
In the bottom of the first, TAMUK loaded the bases after an ENMU error with two outs, but left runners stranded after a strikeout ended the inning on the following at-bat.
That opened the door for the Greyhounds in the top of the second inning when Grace Rofii hit an RBI single to center field to score Taighen Whitzel and make it 1-0. Two more RBI singles from Valeria Contreras and Mikenzey Patterson later in the inning would give the Greyhounds a 3-0 they would not relinquish as starting pitcher would go on to secure a complete game shutout, allowing five hits with five strikeouts.
Javelina starting pitcher Beth Montes took the loss in the opening game, pitching 7.0 innings, allowing six hits, with five strikeouts.
In Game 2, the Greyounds had another big second inning, aided by a Javelina fielding error at second base and an RBI from Judith Osuna that brought in two runs to make it 3-0.
The Javelinas committed another error in the third inning which led to Contreras crossing the plate to give the Greyhounds a 4-0 lead.
TAMUK provided an answer in the third when an Aliyah Ortiz single up the middle brought in Breana Carr to put the Javelinas on the board and make it 4-1. Meanwhile, an ENMU error put Evans in scoring position, where she would take advantage of a passed ball moments later to cross the plate and make it a 4-2 game.
The Javelinas put two runners on in the fourth, but Evans would ground out to third and provide the missed opportunity that would ultimately set the stage for her three-run homer in the sixth inning.
"Our girls resilient; they never give up," Salinas said. "We truly believe we have a team that could end up in the world series. We're not giving up because we're that good. We have those types of players. We're just hoping to finish grinding the season out and get into the conference tournament and we believe as a team that great things are gonna happen."
Evans was a combined 3 for 5 with two walks on the day with two runs scored, while Carr was a combined 4 for 6 with two runs scored.
Rodriguez picked up the win for the Javelinas with a complete game effort in which she allowed 10 hits, two earned runs with six strikeouts.
The Javelinas will aim to win the series tomorrow when the two teams faceoff in the third game of the series at noon.
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