Kingsville - Senior RHP
Andrea Martinez picked up both a save and a complete-game, shutout win for the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team as the Javelinas swept the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds, 9-6 and 8-0 (five innings), in the final home doubleheader of its season.
Using just 12 hits, the TAMUK scored 17 runs across the matchup, the sixth DH this season that has seen the squad scratch 15 or more runs. The Hogs now sit at 30-16 overall and 25-11 in Lone Star Conference play. The team's spot in the LSC Tournament, which will begin in two weeks and is hosted by the No.1 seed, is secure, with Kingsville locked into either the fourth, fifth, or sixth seed - the team is currently in fifth.
Dre Dominates
For the third time this season, Martinez notched both a complete-game win and a save in the same doubleheader. She started both games, leaving the circle in game one after two innings before returning in the seventh to secure TAMUK's win with the fourth save of her season. She then threw a five-inning complete-game shutout in game two, giving up just two hits and one walk while striking out four.
Her four saves are the third-most in the LSC this season, and tie her for fourth-most notched in a career by a single Javelina in program history. Her six total strikeouts on the day give her 115 on the season, the seventh-most in the conference.
Game Summaries
Game one began on a high note for the Hogs, as they batted around in the first, scoring eight runs. Sophomore RF
Lainee Ballin, freshman OF
Kennia Chong, and freshman SS
Ella Srubar all knocked base-hit RBIs, followed by an RBI groundout from PH
Audri Castillo. The inning was capped by freshman 2B
Victoria Vargas, who reached on an error and showed off her blurring speed, sending two runs home before rounding third herself and coming home to score.
Though ENMU got a run back in the top of the second, Chong was quick to answer with a solo home run to scratch another for the Hogs. The scoring then quieted until the late stages of the game, when the Greyhounds began to claw back. They scored two runs each in the fifth and seventh innings, pulling within three. One out into the seventh, ENMU had one runner aboard with the trying run on deck. That's when Martinez entered the game, getting the final two outs for Kingsville, the last of which was a leaping grab at the track made by Chong to secure the win.
Game two again featured a Javelina offensive explosion, though this one came with less fireworks. Kingsville scored four first-frame runs on just one hit. The Hogs loaded the bases and batted around in their side of the first, utilizing walks, HBPs, and fielder's choices to notch the second of three crooked-number innings on the day. The final such time came two innings later, when Vargas knocked an RBI single through the right infield, and sophomore 3B
Alaunah Almaraz went the same way for two more scores. One inning later, junior 1B
Dakota Martinez scored from third on a passed ball, growing TAMUK's lead to eight. A. Martinez then went 1-2-3 through the ENMU order in the top of the fifth with a pair of Ks, initiating the run rule and getting Kingsville its 11th LSC DH sweep of the season.
Senior Day
Between the two games of the doubleheader, the team honored its four graduating seniors, OF
Shelbie Peal, RHPs
Kristina Nash and Martinez, and OF
Sydney Christopher. Though Christopher is missing the final season of her career with injury, the three others all played in the final home DH of their collegiate careers.
Each has given so much to the program over the course of their careers, and will be graduating this spring with their degrees.
Streaks
Two of Kingsville's freshmen have begun impressive hitting streaks. Chong and Srubar have each reached base safely for 10-plus games. Chong's tear has extended to 16 games with two hits (including a homer) and three RBIs in game one, followed by a walk in game two. Srubar has now gotten aboard safely in 12 straight games with an RBI double in game one and an RBI single in game two.
Up Next
The final weekend of the regular season awaits for the softball team, as they head north to take on No.23 UT-Tyler on Friday (3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.) and Texas Woman's on Sunday (12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.). Though movement from the squad's fifth spot in the LSC standings will take a lot of outside help, the games could hold significant weight for TAMUK, as the potential to drop to the sixth spot or jump up to No.4 are both possible.
