Canyon - Fueled by a strong offensive day and a dominating pitching performance, the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team beat No.17 Oklahoma Christian in the Quarterfinals of the Lone Star Conference Tournament, earning a spot in the Tournament's Semifinals for the first time since 2022.
The win was a historic one for Kingsville, marking the third LSC Tournament win for the program since 2019, and its second trip to the Tournament Semis in that time. The team will play the Tournamen's No.1 seed, No.4-ranked West Texas A&M and Texas Woman's, at 5:00 p.m. on Friday.
Another Andrea Gem
Senior RHP
Andrea Martinez (W, 15-8) locked down the circle for Kingsville once again, showing no fear in the first postseason start of her career. She threw the 11th complete game of her year, allowing just one earned run across 7.0 innings of work in which she struck out a pair and forced OC to leave five runners stranded. Martinez has now struck out 121 batters in her senior season.
Game Summary
Kingsville struck quickly, scoring a pair of runs on a single from sophomore RF
Lainee Ballin in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. As it has done all year, the team then tightened the clamps defensively, using a gem from Martinez and excellent defensive plays in the field to keep OC's offense silent until the sixth.
TAMUK's offense provided run support for its senior pitcher as well, tacking on another two runs in the fourth on RBI base hits from freshman LF
Kennia Chong and freshman pinch hitter
Isabella Hernandez. It then scratched two more runs in the sixth, scoring a pair on an E8. Despite allowing the Eagles to cut into their deficit in the sixth, the Javelinas' defense continued to lock down the late innings. An inning-ending unassisted double play (6-3) turned by sophomore SS
Megan Geyer left an Eagle stranded on third in the bottom of the fifth, preventing OC from beginning any rally. That defense helped to push Kingsville through the finish line to its historic victory.
Five different players posted hits for Kingsville, led by a three-hit game from sophomore 3B
Alaunah Almaraz, who scored two runs and drew a walk in the contest. Ballin had a pair of hits, a walk, and drove in a run, while Chong and Hernandez each brought in runs for Kingsville with their base knocks.
Up Next
The Javelinas will play at the same time tomorrow against the Tournament's No.1 seed, No.4 West Texas A&M, at 5:00 p.m. with a berth to the Tournament Championship game on the line.
