HOUSTON – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team split its final games of the Houston Hilton Plaza Classic today at Cougar Softball Stadium. The Islanders secured their second victory of the season with a 6-4 win over Illinois in the first game, before falling 6-2 to New Mexico in the final game.
Sophomore Brittney Morse hit an impressive .800 in the two games combined today. She registered a team-high four hits, including a pair of doubles and a home run to go with three RBIs and nine total bases.
The Islanders (2-12-1) will now return home to host Texas A&M - International in a doubleheader on Feb. 25, at Chapman Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
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GAME 1: TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI 6, ILLINOIS 4
The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team was leading Illinois 6-1 in the top of the fourth on Saturday when rain showers suspended play. The Islanders and Fighting Illini (5-9) resumed play today in the top of the fourth and the Islanders maintained their lead to secure a 6-4 win.
On Saturday, Illinois put up a run on one hit in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. After a leadoff double by Allie Bauch, Alyssa Gunther advanced her to third on a sacrifice bunt. Ruby Rivera then followed with a RBI groundout to shortstop to score Bauch and put the Fighting Illini on the board. Islanders' hurler Liz Carter pulled the Islanders out with her first strikeout of the game.
The Islanders quickly answered in the bottom of the first with a run on one hit to even the game at 1-1. With two outs, Morse sent her 10th career homer and second this season over the center field wall for the Islanders' first run of the game.
After a scoreless second inning, the Islanders' bats ignited for six hits and five runs in the bottom of the third. Lindsey Lyles started the frame with her third double of the season with a shot down the left field line before landing on third after Savannah Sandoval ripped a single through the left side. Sandoval then swiped her second stolen base of the season before Cosette Hernandez hit an infield single to load the bases for Dani Tefft. The junior hit a RBI groundout to shortstop to plate Lyles. Morse then followed with her third double of the season to left center to score Hernandez and Sandoval, and make it a 4-1 lead for the Islanders. Carter kept the Islanders' bats alive with a single to right center to advance Morse to third. With runners on the corners, Jessica Mendez reached on a walk to load the bases. After Galloway hit a fly out for the second out of the frame, senior Mickayla Cochran nailed a two-run single to right field to bring Carter and Morse across home plate. Illinois pulled out of the inning with a strikeout.
After a scoreless fourth inning after play was resumed, the Fighting Illini put up a run in the fifth and two in the seventh. In the fifth, Leigh Farina hit an infield single and Bauch followed with a RBI double to left field to score Farina. After a double by Gunther, Carter retired the side to pull the Islanders out of the frame.
Illinois then threatened in the top of the seventh with two runs on three hits. Bauch hit a home run to center field, before back-to-back singles put runners on first and second. After a double play, an error by the Islanders scored the second run of the frame for Illinois. A groundout to Galloway ended the game as the Islanders secured the win.
The Islanders tallied seven hits in the win with Morse going 2-for-3 to lead the Islanders' bats. The sophomore also chipped in three RBIs and two runs. Hernandez, Carter, Cochran, Lyles and Sandoval all added one hit apiece.
Carter (2-7) secured the win in the Islanders' circle. The sophomore allowed 11 hits, four runs, three of them earned, while walking one and striking out three in seven innings.
Shelese Arnold suffered the loss for Illinois in three innings. She allowed seven hits, six runs and one walk while striking out two.
GAME 2: NEW MEXICO 6, TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI 2
New Mexico got off to a strong start with a pair of runs in the opening frame on one hit. With two outs, Chelsea Johnson reached on an Islanders' throwing error as Shelbie Franc came around to score after reaching on a walk. Mariah Rimmer then followed with a RBI double through the left side to score Johnson. The Islanders then escaped as Lyles snagged a foul ball.
The Islanders responded with a run in the bottom of the second as Lyles hit a RBI groundout to plate Mendez who reached on a walk.
The Lobos tacked on two more runs in the top of the third on two hits to build a three-point cushion. Brandi Heimburg hit a leadoff home run to right center before Casados sent a solo shot over the right center wall with one out.
After scoreless fourth and fifth innings, the Islanders answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Morse cranked her fourth double of the season to right center before Michelle Sorenson hit a RBI single down the left field line to score Mackinzee Griebel who came in to pinch run for Morse.
With the Islanders trailing by two, New Mexico added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh on four hits to pad its lead to 6-2. Lisa Rodrigues hit a leadoff double down the right field line and Michala Erickson followed with a single to right field before the pair scored on a two-run single by Jasmine Casados to right center.
Morse went 2-for-2 to propel the Islanders' bats while Hernandez, Tefft and Sorenson each recorded one hit each.
Sophomore Katie Blanar relieved junior Stephanie Flores in the Islanders' circle in the top of the fourth and retired six straight Lobos before giving up a hit in the top of the sixth. Blanar allowed five hits total and two runs, while walking one and striking out two in four innings.
Flores (0-5) registered the loss for the Islanders in three innings. She gave up three hits, four runs, two of them earned, while walking two Lobos.
Carrie Sheehan (3-1) picked up the win for New Mexico in seven innings. She limited the Islanders to five hits, two runs and two walks while striking out three.
