HOUSTON – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team secured its first win of the season in its second game today of the Houston Hilton Plaza Classic at Cougar Softball Stadium. The Islanders dropped a 6-2 loss to New Mexico this morning before picking up a 5-4 victory over Houston (6-10) this evening.
Senior Lindsey Lyles had a standout day as she drilled two home runs and a double to hit .500. She also collected five RBIs and 10 total bases. Junior Dani Tefft also hit .500 on the day with three hits and a pair of stolen bases. Senior Mickayla Cochran, junior Cosette Hernandez, sophomore Jessica Mendez and freshman Savannah Sandoval all tallied two hits on the day.
The Islanders (1-11-1) will continue action in the classic tomorrow against Illinois and Houston. First pitch against the Fighting Illini is set for 12:30 p.m. followed by a 3 p.m. first pitch against the Cougars.
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GAME 1: NEW MEXICO 6, TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI 2
New Mexico (6-6) built an early deficit for the Islanders after scoring three runs in the bottom of the first on a pair of hits. Brandi Heimburg led off the frame with a single to left center before advancing to second on a groundout by Shelbie Franc. After a walk put Lobos on first and second, Chelsea Johnson hit a three-run home run over the center field wall to give New Mexico an early 3-0 lead. Islanders' hurler Stephanie Flores settled in and struck out UNM's Karissa Haleman before allowing back-to-back walks. Flores then picked up her second punch out of the game to end the frame.
The Islanders threatened in the top of the third with bases loaded but New Mexico was able to pull out of the jam. With two outs, Hernandez reached on a walk before advancing to second on a single to left field by Mendez, for the Islanders' first hit of the game. Brittney Morse followed with a walk to load the bases, but Liz Carter hit a fielder's choice as Mendez was called out on the play.
A&M - Corpus Christi's bats rallied in the top of the fourth with two runs on two hits to pull within one. With one out, Tefft ripped an infield single before swiping her 23rd career stolen base to move into sixth place all-time in the Islanders' record books. With Tefft on second, Lyles stepped to the plate and cranked her sixth career home run and her second this season with a shot over the left field wall to make it a 3-2 lead for New Mexico.
The Lobos then tacked on another home run in the bottom of the fourth to give them a two-point cushion. Lisa Rodrigues sent a solo shot over the left center wall to lead off the frame. Flores settled in and retired the next two Lobos before a single through the right side by Franc and an error by the Islanders advanced her to second. The Islanders capped off the frame after Tefft snagged the fly out in left field.
The Islanders put runners in scoring position in the top of the sixth but were unable to push any across home plate. With one out, Cochran nailed a single through the right side before registering her 15th career stolen base. Tefft followed with a walk but a pop fly by Lyles and a groundout by Hayley Galloway sent the Islanders' defense back on the field.
New Mexico added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to build its lead to 6-2. Rodrigues started the frame with a single down the left field line before Flores recorded her seventh strikeout of the game. UNM's Heimburg then reached on a walk before a sacrifice bunt by Franc advanced Heimburg to second and Rehanna Little to third. Jasmine Casados followed with a RBI single through the left side to score Little for the Lobos' fifth run of the game. Heimburg then stole home to make it a 6-2 lead for the Lobos. After a walk put Lobos on first and second, Haleman hit a fly out to Cochran for the third out of the frame.
In the final inning, Hernandez hit a single through the right side for the Islanders' fifth hit of the game but was stranded as a pair of fly outs ended the game.
Flores (0-4) suffered the loss in the Islanders' circle. The junior allowed nine hits, six runs and five walks while striking out seven in six innings.
Lauren Soles (3-1) recorded the win for the Lobos in 5.1 innings. She held the Islanders to four hits and two runs, while walking five and striking out four. Krissy Fortner secured the save for the Lobos after allowing just one hit in 1.2 innings.
GAME 2: TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI 5, HOUSTON 4
After a scoreless first two innings, the Islanders got on board in the top of the third with a run on four hits to take a 1-0 lead. Lyles hit her second double of the season to start the frame and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Galloway. Sandoval then stepped to the plate and ripped a RBI single through the left side to score Lyles and put the Islanders on the board. Hernandez and Tefft kept the Islanders' bats going with back-to-back singles to load the bases for Morse. However, the Cougars escaped as Morse hit a fly out and Hernandez was called out on the double play.
After a two-out single by Houston in the bottom of the third, Lyles tallied the third out to bring the Islanders' bats back to the plate. In the top of the fourth, Carter reached on a walk to start the frame and Cochran followed with her fourth double of the season with a shot to center field as Carter advanced to third. Mendez then hit a RBI sacrifice fly to center field to bring Carter home to score and give the Islanders a 2-0 lead. The Cougars pulled out of the jam as Lyles hit into a double play to end the frame.
The Islanders built a 5-0 lead with two outs in the top of the sixth with three runs on two hits. After Morse reached on a walk to leadoff the inning, Carter hit a line out before Cochran reached on a fielder's choice. With one out, Mendez nailed a single to right field to advance Cochran to second. Lyles then came to the plate and blasted her second home run of the day and her third one this season to clear the bases and give the Islanders a five-point cushion.
The Cougars then answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth on two hits to pull within three. Katie St. Pierre hit a one-out infield single before advancing to second on a fielder's choice by Kaylin Crumpton. With two outs, Selena Hernandez hit a two-run home run over the center field wall to score St. Pierre and put the Cougars on the board.
Houston rallied back in the bottom of the seventh with two runs on four hits. After a leadoff groundout, Jaime Edwards hit a double down the left field line before Julana Shrum followed with a single to center field to put Cougars on the corners. Kris Davila then hit a RBI single through the right side to plate Jaylin Baldridge who came in to pinch run for Edwards. St. Pierre then followed suit with a RBI single through the left side to score Rains who came in to pinch run for Shrum. After Carter recorded her third strikeout of the game for the second out of the frame, the Islanders escaped with the victory as Tefft snagged the fly out in left field.
Carter (1-7) picked up her first win of the season and her 14th career win in the Islanders' circle. She held the Cougars to seven hits, four runs and three walks while striking out three in seven innings.
Kayla Maxwell (2-2) registered the loss for Houston in three innings. She allowed five hits, two runs and one walk.
