CORPUS CHRISTI – McNeese State's bats and strong pitching led them to a pair of victories over the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team today in a Southland Conference doubleheader at Chapman Field. The Islanders (4-18-1, 0-6 SLC) fell short 3-0 in the first game before the Cowgirls' (20-6, 6-0 SLC) bats ignited for 10 hits in the second game en route to a 5-0 win.
Sophomore Brittney Morse hit .400 in the two games combined while senior Mickayla Cochran, senior Lindsey Lyles and junior Cosette Hernandez all chipped in two hits on the day.
The Islanders will continue Southland Conference action when they travel to Thibodaux, La. to take on Nicholls in a three-games series on March 20-21.
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GAME 1: MCNEESE STATE 3, TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI 0
The Cowgirls put up a pair of runs in the top of the second and one in the sixth to secure the win in the opening game today. Cochran went 2-for-3 while Morse, Lyles and senior Hayley Galloway each added one hit in the loss.
In the top of the second, McNeese's Dakota Matiko hit a RBI ground out to score Lauren Langner who led off the frame with an infield single. Taylor Goree then hit a RBI single to right field to plate Morgan Catron, who reached on a walk. Morse was able to catch Goree stealing to end the frame.
The Cowgirls maintained their lead and held the Islanders out of the scoring position until the bottom of the fifth when the Islanders put runners on second and third. Cochran started things off with an infield single before Jessica Mendez reached on a walk. Sophomore Mackinzee Griebel then did her job to advance the runners with a sacrifice bunt. With Islanders on second and third, the Cowgirls were able to pull out of the jam as Hernandez hit a line out to Goree at shortstop and she picked Cochran off on third.
The Cowgirls then tacked on their third run of the game in the top of the sixth after Taylor Schmidt reached on a RBI fielder's choice to bring Tori Yanitor across home plate. Yanitor came in to pinch run for Erika Piancastelli who reached on a leadoff walk.
Junior Stephanie Flores (1-7) took the loss for the Islanders in the circle. She allowed six hits and three runs, while walking two in seven innings.
Jamie Allred (4-3) earned the win for the Cowgirls. She held the Islanders to five hits and just one walk, while striking out one in seven innings.
GAME 2: MCNEESE STATE 5, TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI 0
The Cowgirls' bats propelled them to a 5-0 victory in the second game as they outhit the Islanders 10-6. McNeese registered six of their 10 hits in the final two frames resulting in three runs.
Hernandez went 2-for-3 to lead the Islanders at the plate while junior Dani Tefft, Morse, Lyles and Mendez all added one hit each.
After a scoreless first inning, McNeese posted the first run of the game in the top of the second after Schmidt hit a RBI single to right field with one out to plate Langner, who reached on a fielder's choice. Islanders' hurler Liz Carter was able to settle in and retire the next two Cowgirls.
After Carter retired the Cowgirls in order in the top of the third, the Islanders put a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the third after Mendez led off the frame with her third career double with a shot down the left field line. She then swiped third for her first stolen base of the season. However, McNeese's Rachel Smith retired the next three Islanders to end the frame.
McNeese added their second run of the game in the top of the fourth after Piancastelli hit a leadoff home run over the left field wall. The Cowgirls then extended their lead with a pair of runs on three hits in the top of the sixth to take a 4-0 lead. After Piancastelli and Bryanna Castro hit back-to-back singles, Langner loaded the bases with a bunt. After Morse snagged a fly out, Catron reached on a RBI walk to plate Yanitor across. Castro then scored on a wild pitch before a pop fly to Galloway at second pulled the Islanders out.
The Islanders put two more runners on in the bottom of the sixth after Morse reached on a walk to leadoff the frame and Galloway reached on a fielding error by the Cowgirls with two outs. However, a ground out by Cochran sent the Islanders to the top of the seventh where the Cowgirls added a run on three hits. Piancastelli hit a RBI double to right center with two outs to score Emily Vincent who reached on a single through the left side. Morse was able to snag the foul ball to end the frame and give the Islanders one more chance to rally in the bottom of the seventh.
In the final frame, Mendez reached on walk before being called out at second after Hernandez reached on a fielder's choice with one out. Tefft then followed with her first hit of the game with an infield single and Morse followed with a walk to load the bases, however Lyles hit a pop fly to shortstop to end the game.
Carter (3-11) suffered the loss for the Islanders in the circle. She allowed 10 hits, five runs and two walks, while striking out four in seven innings.
Smith (7-2) recorded the win for McNeese. She limited the Islanders to six hits, and allowed four walks while striking out four in seven innings.
