WACO, Texas – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team dropped a pair of losses on the opening day of the Getterman Classic at Getterman Stadium. Wichita State (1-0) used a three-run bottom of the third to edge the Islanders, 3-2, in the season opener before SFA (1-0) put together a late rally to garner a 6-3 win in eight innings in the second game.
The Islanders (0-2) will continue play tomorrow against No. 10/11 Baylor at 12:30 p.m. before beginning bracket play in the afternoon.
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GAME 1: WICHITA STATE 3, TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI 2
The Islanders got on board first in the top of the third with a pair of runs after a trio of hits. Sophomore Mackinzee Griebel started the two-out rally with an infield single to third and junior Dani Tefft followed with a dropper to left field to put runners in scoring position for Mickayla Cochran. The senior reached on a fielding error by WSU's center fielder and Griebel came around to score. Wtih runners on the corners, Preseason All-Southland Second Team member Brittney Morse then stepped to the plate and drilled a RBI single to left field to score Tefft and give the Islanders a 2-0 lead.
The Shockers answered back in the bottom of the third with three unearned runs that resulted from a pair of Islanders' errors and three hits, to push ahead 3-2. Ashley Johnson reached on an Islanders' throwing error and advanced to second on the throw before scoring on a RBI single by Brittany Fortner. Cacy Williams who reached on an Islander fielding error before Fortner's single, scored on a wild pitch before Fortner plated the Shockers' third run of the game after a RBI single by Paige Mason through the right side. The Islanders pulled out of the frame after Carter recorded her second strikeout of the game and Hayley Galloway tossed it Cosette Hernandez for the force out at third.
Wichita State maintained the lead the rest of the game as hurler Katie Malone didn't allow any earned runs in seven innings.
Tefft led the Islanders with two hits, while Morse and Griebel each chipped in one.
Sophomore Liz Carter (0-1) suffered the loss for the Islanders in her 32nd career start. She is now just one start away from tying Greta Cecchetti's (2011-12) top-10 record of 33. The Austin, Texas native allowed six hits, one walk, and three unearned runs, while recording three strikeouts in six innings.
Malone (1-0) secured the win for the Shockers in seven innings. She limited the Islanders to four hits while recording seven strikeouts and two unearned runs.
GAME 2: STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 6, TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI 3 – 8 innings
The Islanders jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second after their bats ignited for three hits. Carter led things off with a walk and advanced to second on an infield single by Hernandez. Jessica Mendez then followed suit with a single to third to load the bases for Galloway. The senior then hit a dropper to left field to plate Carter and put the Islanders on the board.
The Islanders padded their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third with two runs on two hits. After Cochran was hit by the pitch, Lindsey Lyles stepped to the plate and drilled a double to the center field wall for her 10th career double. Carter kept the Islanders' bats going with a RBI single to left center to plate Cochran for the Islanders' second run of the game. After a ground out by Hernandez pushed Carter to second, Mendez hit a RBI sacrifice fly to center field to plate Lyles and give the Islanders 3-0 lead.
SFA put together a late rally in the top of the sixth with three runs to knot the game at 3-3. Autumn Holloway started the rally after hitting a RBI single with one out to left field to score Taylor Vick who came in to pinch run. After Lindsay Campbell hit an infield single to load the bases, Carter came in to relieve Stephanie Flores in the Islanders' circle. After Taylor Fraccastoro reached on an Islanders' fielding error and scored Lora Blackwell, SFA's Heathers Hollingsworth nailed an RBI single to plate Holloway and knot the game at 3-3. The Islanders pulled out of the inning leaving bases loaded after a putout at home and a ground out to third.
The Islanders and Ladyjacks stayed even through the seventh to force extra innings. After Holloway was placed on second, Carter secured her first strikeout of the game before SFA put runners on the corners after a stolen base and infield single. Carter tallied another strikeout for the second out of the frame before Brittany Lewis drilled a three-run home run over the left center wall to push the Ladyjacks ahead 6-3. Carter ended the frame with her third strikeout of the game.
In the bottom of the eighth, Tefft started on second and Lyles reached on a SFA fielding error with one out, but the Islanders were unable to score after a fly out and ground out ended the game.
The Islanders posted five hits in the game with Lyles, Carter, Hernandez, Mendez and Galloway each chipping in one apiece.
Carter (0-2), who relieved Flores in the sixth when the score was tied suffered the loss. Flores, who earned her first career start for the Islanders allowed eight hits, three runs and five walks while striking out one in 5.1 innings. Carter allowed five hits and three runs, two of them earned, and recorded three strikeouts in 2.2 innings. Michelle Sorenson had a solid game behind home plate with two pickoffs and six putouts.
Lewis (1-0) earned the win for the Ladyjacks after coming in relief for Hannah Welch. Lewis didn't allow a hit or a run in six innings and registered three strikeouts.
