Kingsville - In a wild, six-hour matchup that saw the two teams total 58 hits and 44 runs, the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team swept the Cameron Aggies, dropping a new single-game score high in game one with a 20-13 win before sophomore outfielder Lainee Ballin walked off the second game with an RBI single to give Kingsville a 6-5 win.

The Javelinas scored 26 total runs across the doubleheader and move to 12-10 on the season and 7-5 in Lone Star Conference play. Junior first baseman Dakota Martinez led the way for TAMUK, hitting for a cycle in an incredible game-one performance. She totaled six hits and six RBI on the day. She was one of three Javelinas who posted a pair of multi-hit games on Friday, as she was joined by freshman outfielder Victoria Vargas and senior center fielder Seleste Compian. 

The day began just as the first game's score might imply, with a run. The Aggies plated one in the top of the first, which was quickly grabbed back by an RBI double from Martinez. After another run from Cameron in the top of the second, Kingsville's bats exploded to the tune of six runs in the bottom of the second. The six spot started with a solo homer from freshman designated player Kennia Chong and ended with a bases-clearing triple from Martinez that scored two. TAMUK followed another Aggie run in the top of the third by batting around for the second straight inning, dropping five more runs in the third off of a Compian two-RBI double, a sacrifice fly from sophomore third baseman Alaunah Almaraz, and a two-run jack from Martinez. 

The Aggies weren't done yet, however, as they put up a five-spot of their own to climb back into the game. Unfazed, Kingsville continued its offensive tear, plating eight more runs in the game, including another five-spot in the bottom of the sixth to help secure the win. The first hit of that frame came as a single from Martinez, who nabbed the first cycle of her career, which is also the first four-hit game of her career. She ended up coming around to score on a two-RBI single from Maria Valls Raya, who finished the game with three hits and three RBI. She joined Almaraz, Compian, and Martinez as the four Javelinas to drive in at least three runs in the game.

Defensively, senior RHP Andrea Martinez responded in a big way to help get Kingsville the win. After starting the game and exiting just two outs into the contest, she was re-entered one out into the sixth, tasked with grabbing the Aggies final five outs, which she did with ease, striking out the side in the seventh to get TAMUK back above .500.

Game two was equally eventful from the jump, as TAMUK put up three runs in the bottom of the first to grab an early lead. It was again D. Martinez who started the action for Kingsville, sending Vargas home after the speedy freshmen led off the game with the first triple of her collegiate career. Though TAMUK scored another run in the bottom of the third, Cameron put up a three-spot in the top of the fifth, taking a 5-4 lead. With their backs against the wall, the Javelinas and their young stars came up clutch. In danger of leaving sophomore Elena Gonzalez, who pinch ran for sophomore second baseman Alexis Soliz and stole second, stranded in scoring position, Vargas sent a two-out shot back up the middle, scoring Gonzalez and tying the game. Then it was A. Martinez and the TAMUK defense's turn to come up big, putting away three straight Aggie batters after the road team put the first two batters of the inning aboard. From there, the Javelina bats took over, knocking three straight base hits to open up the bottom of the seventh, punctuated by Ballin's walkoff single that gave Kingsville the win. A. Martinez came in out of the bullpen to pitch 4.2 innings of relief, giving up three earned runs (all in the fifth) and striking out seven. 

TAMUK will now look ahead to its matchup with the No.13 Oklahoma Christian Eagles at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday at Hubert Field. Read Full Article