Kingsville - Fueled by late-game heroics, the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team swept the St. Edward's Hilltoppers, 6-5 (eight innings) and 7-5, securing the 100th head-coaching win of Orlando Salinas' career and pushing the Javelinas' win streak to a historic 13 games.

An extra-inning walkoff in game one and a game-saving strikeout for the final out of game two helped to keep TAMUK's win streak intact, earning victories in the first two games of a four-game weekend homestand. In the process, Salinas became the fourth Head Coach in program history to reach the century mark for the Javelinas.

Hoggie Heroics

Sophomore SS Megan Guyer returned to Kingsville's lineup after missing more than a month due to injury as an eighth-inning pinch hitter. Down by one, Guyer doubled into right centerfield, sending freshman LF Kennia Chong and freshman DP Isabella Hernandez home to win the game in walk-off fashion. 

In game two, it was Kingsville's defense, and a game-finishing strikeout from senior RHP Andrea Martinez, that closed out the win after SEU plated a pair and loaded the bases in the top of the seventh. Martinez picked up the save, the third of her season, tying her for the fourth-most ever recorded by a Javelina in a single season.

LSC Standings

TAMUK's win streak continues to be the longest active one in the Lone Star Conference, and is now the sixth-longest in program history. The team holds on to its fifth spot in the conference standings, which feature an increasingly-large gap between the top five teams and the rest of the LSC. The Hogs are currently one game out of a tie for third place in the conference and two out of a tie for first.

Big Hitters

Across the doubleheader, six Javelinas drove in runs and three, freshman 2B Victoria Vargas, junior 1B Dakota Martinez, and sophomore 3B Alaunah Almaraz, each posted at least three hits. The team put up four extra-base hits, all doubles. It posted two in the first game, one each from Almaraz and Guyer, and two more in the second with hits from Hernandez and Vargas.

Game Summaries

St. Edward's jumped out to a quick game-one lead, plating a run in the top of the first due to a Javelina error. A defensive bout then ensued, with an RBI single from Almaraz that tied the game breaking up six scoreless frames. The Hilltoppers then broke that tie in the top of the fifth with a three-spot that put Kingsville's backs against the wall. Down to their final six outs, the Javelinas came up big, plating a pair in the bottom of the sixth on a sac fly from Chong and an RBI single from Hernandez. Then, in the bottom of the seventh, with TAMUK on its last strike, Vargas stole home to tie the game, forcing extra innings. Though SEU scratched one in the top of the frame, Guyer's clutch hitting gave Kingsville its win in walkoff fashion. 

Starting in the circle for Kingsville, A. Martinez (W, 10-6) was replaced by junior RHP Marianna Zumerle after five innings of work. Zumerle then threw 2.2 IP of one-run (unearned) relief work, before A. Martinez re-entered to get TAMUK its final out in the top of the sixth, which she did with one pitch. 

In game two, it was the Javelinas' turn to jump out to an early lead. They put up crooked numbers in both the second and third frames, scoring six combined runs in those two innings. Vargas, Ballin, Chong, and Hernandez all drove in runs across the offensive explosion. TAMUK paired in with a strong defensive start that saw freshman LHP Kailee Silva (W, 3-1), and senior RHP Kristina Nash combine to begin the game with four straight scoreless sides. The Hilltoppers then sliced their lead in half in the fifth, putting up another three-spot. Though Kingsville got one back on a sac fly from Almaraz in the sixth, SEU refused to go quietly, scoring two runs and loading the bases in the seventh inning. The team left all three stranded however, as A. Martinez, who pitched the final 2.0 IP for TAMUK, struck out St. Ed's final batter to secure her save.

Up Next

TAMUK will host St. Mary's in an afternoon DH on Sunday, testing its historic win streak against the Rattlers at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.. Read Full Article