Colorado Springs, CO - Using big hitting and a strong pitching performance, the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team took down Minnesota-Crookston, 13-5, and Adams St., 4-1, to close out its final day at the Southern Colorado Crossover 2-0 and push its win streak to five games.

Sophomore outfielder Lainee Ballin led the way offensively, going 5-for-7 across the two games, with a pair of homers (one in each game), a double, a walk, and three total RBIs. Defensively, the day's second game featured a gem from freshman LHP Kailee Silva, who got the start and went a full seven innings, striking out nine and giving up just one earned run.

The day started with an offensive onslaught from the Hogs, who scored at least one run in every inning of their game against Crookston. After Kingsville brought a run home on an error in the first and added another score with a Ballin solo homer in the second, the team broke the game open with a four spot in the third. Ballin started the explosion with an RBI single, and continued just one batter later with a two-RBI double from sophomore third baseman Julissa Vasquez. In total, four different Javelinas had a multi-hit game. 

Though the Golden Eagles responded by scoring three in the fourth, forcing a pair of pitching changes, TAMUK ended the game by plating six unanswered runs, salting away the team's fourth straight win. Kingsville used four relief pitchers in the game, sophomore LHP Esther Martinez, junior RHP Marianna Zumerle, junior RHP Andrea Martinez, and redshirt junior RHP Rylee Yarborough, who all combined to give up just one run (earned) through the game's final 5.2 innings. 

In the day's second game, it was Silva's turn to shine. The start was the first of her collegiate career, and she allowed six hits (one extra-base hit) and a pair of walks but was fantastic in spite of the base-path activity, allowing just one runner to come home on a sixth-inning single. She picked up both the first complete game and first win of her career. 

Though TAMUK's offense was quiet to start the game, it gave Silva run support in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of runs, and added another in each of the fifth and sixth innings. 

The Javelinas will return to Kingsville for their home opener which is set for Sunday, when they will start Lone Star Conference play with a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader against the Dustdevils from Texas A&M - International.  Read Full Article