HOUSTON – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team outhit Houston Baptist 11-2 and used a season-high 18 players to cruise to a 3-0 non-conference victory Saturday afternoon at Husky Field. The Islanders have won four straight and eight of its last 10 games.
The Islanders (16-16, 10-4 SLC) used four out of its five pitchers and limited Houston Baptist (14-28, 2-4 GWC) to just two hits and three base runners. Seven different Islanders tallied hits with freshman Hayley Galloway leading the way with three hits.
Greta Cecchetti (10-4) picked up her 10th victory in the circle and third straight. The senior pitched the first two innings and retired all six Huskies she faced. Vianca Pesina entered in the bottom of the third and allowed just one hit while striking out three in two innings. Jordan Trujillo entered in the bottom of the fifth and retired all six of her batters she faced while striking out two in two innings. Sophomore Constance Brandenburg made her fourth appearance of the season in the circle in the bottom of the seventh. She allowed the Huskies one walk and one hit in one inning while sealing her first save of the season.
The Islanders started things off with two hits in the opening frame. Hannah Schwarz tallied the Islanders first hit with a single up the middle and Schumann followed with a bunt in front of home plate to advance Schwarz to second. The Islanders left both stranded as the Huskies were able to pull out of the inning.
Meagan McKinney singled through the right side to begin the second inning and advanced to second on a Cassie Carroll ground out. Galloway followed suit with a RBI double to right center to plate Mckinney and put up the Islanders first run of the game. Mickayla Heller reached on an error to put runners on first and second. Schwarz followed with her second hit of the game to left center but the Huskies were able to escape with an 8-2 play to end the inning.
The Huskies recorded their first hit of the game in the bottom of the third. Mac Christensen started the inning with a single to shortstop before HBU's Holly Webb reached on a fielder's choice. Pesina ended the inning with two back-to-back strikeouts.
The Islanders padded the lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Schumann tallied her second hit with a solo shot to center field and Jamise Jackson reached base on a walk. In her first at bat Alejia Cain blasted an RBI double to left field to score Schumann.
The Islanders added another run in the seventh inning on two outs. In her first at bat of the game Laura Phillips hit a RBI double to left center to score Schumann who reached on an error.
Galloway led the Islanders bats' with three hits, while Schwarz and Schumann each chipped in two hits apiece. Jackson, Phillips, Cain and McKinney each added one apiece.
The Islanders will travel to Huntsville, Texas on Tuesday, April 24, to play Sam Houston State in a Southland Conference doubleheader. First pitch is at 2 p.m.
Coach Hughes talks about the team's effort in the Islanders 3-0 victory over HBU:
