CORPUS CHRISTI – The McNeese State Cowgirls used a late rally in the final frame to edge the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team 3-2 Friday in the first of two final home games at Chapman Field.
The Islanders (16-19, 10-7 SLC) scored first in the opening frame before the Cowgirls (27-17, 10-7 SLC) took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second. The Islanders scored again the fourth to knot the score at 2-2, but McNeese State rallied in the seventh to win 3-2. Both teams tallied four hits while the Cowgirls left seven stranded to the Islanders six.
Jordan Trujillo (5-6) suffered her sixth loss of the season and fourth in conference play. The senior replaced Cecchetti in the top of the sixth when the score was tied at 2-2 and allowed just one hit, one run while striking out one batter. Cecchetti gave up five hits and two runs while tying a career-high four walks. The senior also recorded four strikeouts in five innings.
The Islanders put up the first run of the game in the bottom of the first frame on a wild pitch. Cassie Redman started things off with a walk and stole second before Schwarz advanced Redman to third on a sacrifice bunt to third. With two outs, Redman scored on a wild pitch to give the Islanders their first run of the game.
McNeese State answered in the top of the second with two runs on three hits to take a 2-1 lead. Ashley Modzelewski started the inning with a double down the right field line and scored on an RBI single through the right side. The Cowgirls padded the lead with another run from a Katie Roux RBI single to right field.
The Islanders left two stranded in the bottom of the second on one hit. Meagan McKinney reached base on a walk to start the inning before Stephanie Vead ripped a double to right field to move McKinney to third. However, the Cowgirls retired the next three to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, Jamise Jackson led the inning with a single to center field and Heather Harrill, who pinch ran for Jackson, plated the Islanders second run of the game to even the game at 2-2. Harrill scored after advancing to second on a McKinney sacrifice bunt to third and stole third when Vead reached on a walk. Cassie Carroll followed with an RBI single to center field to record her first hit of the game. Hayley Galloway also registered a hit in the fourth with a single to the pitcher to load the Islanders' bases. The Cowgirls pulled out of the jam with a pop fly to second.
Both teams stayed locked at two runs through the fifth and sixth innings before the Cowgirls scored one run in the seventh to secure the victory. McNeese State started the seventh with a single from leadoff batter Claire Terracina and she advanced to second on an Islander's throwing error. After a sacrifice bunt, Terracina scored on a ground out to shortstop.
Jackson, Vead, Carroll and Galloway led the Islanders' bats with one hit apiece while Carroll collected the Islanders only RBI.
The Islanders will look to bounce back tomorrow against the Cowgirls in the Islanders final home game at 1 p.m. Senior presentations will follow Saturday's game.
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