CORPUS CHRISTI – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team shutout Stephen F. Austin in the first game 2-0, but a solo home run in the top of the ninth lifted the Ladyjacks (9-21, 2-8 SLC) to a 4-3 win in the second game at Chapman Field. The Islanders outhit SFA 18-9 today and will wrap the series tomorrow in a rubber match at Chapman Field. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. in the annual Strikeout Breast Cancer Pink Game.
The Islanders (8-21-1, 3-8 SLC) were powered by senior Mickayla Cochran who hit .571 in the two games combined. She finished 4-for-7 while senior Hayley Galloway chipped in three hits for a .500 batting average.
There will be several promotions during and after the game tomorrow to raise money for First Friday and breast cancer awareness. For more information about First Friday click HERE.
• Fans will have the opportunity to support the cause by trying to hit off of current pitching coach, and former Islanders All-American and nine-year NPF veteran Sarah Pauly, 30 minutes after the game ends. There are 25 open slots and the cost is $10 for three pitches. Call 825-BALL to reserve your spot to hit off of Pauly's 68 mph fastball.
•Along with a chance to "Hit Off Pauly," there will be Islanders softball merchandise for sale and a percentage of money made will go to First Friday. There will also be a donation jar available and a dollar from each ticket purchased will also go to First Friday. For more information call 825-BALL or email tickets@tamucc.edu.
For the latest information, follow Islanders Softball on Twitter and Instagram (@IslandersSball) and Facebook (Islanders Softball). Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the Islanders Front Row App at GoIslanders.com/frontrow.
GAME 1: TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI 2, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 0
The opening game featured a strong pitching performance out of sophomore Liz Carter and SFA's Callee Guffey, as neither one of them allowed a hit until the fourth inning.
SFA's Heather Hollingsworth put up the first hit of the game in the top of the fourth with one out, while the Islanders answered in the bottom of the fourth with two hits. Cosette Hernandez hit a leadoff single to left field before Dani Tefft did her job to advance Hernandez to second with a sacrifice bunt. Brittney Morse then stepped to the plate and drilled her sixth double of the season with a shot down the left field line to score Hernandez and give the Islanders a 1-0 lead.
SFA threatened in the top of the fifth as they put runners in scoring position. After a one-walk walk, Tefft snagged the foul fly out in left field, but back-to-back singles put Ladyjacks on the corners. The Islanders however pulled out of the frame as Hernandez scooped up the groundout.
The Islanders added another run in the bottom of the fifth to take a 2-0 lead. Galloway started things off with a single to left center before Jessica Mendez planted a sacrifice bunt to advance Galloway to second. Mackinzee Griebel then drilled a single to second base as Galloway moved to third. With Hernandez at the plate, Griebel swiped second as Galloway came around to score on the stolen base.
Carter and the Islanders' defense held the Ladyjacks off the board in the final two frames as the Islanders went on to win 2-0.
Carter (6-12) earned her second shutout win of the season and her sixth of her career. She allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out six in seven innings.
Guffey (3-9) allowed five hits, two runs and two walks while striking out four in six innings for the Ladyjacks.
Carter, Galloway and Griebel all went 1-for-2 while Hernandez and Morse finished 1-for-3.
GAME 2: STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 4, TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRIST 3 – 9 INNINGS
The game featured a back-and-forth battle between the Islanders and Ladyjacks and after the Islanders evened the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth, SFA's Taylor Fraccastoro hit a two-out solo home run in the top of the ninth to lift her team to a 4-3 win.
The Islanders outhit the Ladyjacks, 13-5, and were powered by Cochran who went 4-for-5. Tefft and Galloway also had a stellar game finishing 2-for-4.
The Ladyjacks capitalized on an Islanders' error in the opening frame to jump out to a 1-0 lead. After Carter led off the game with back-to-back strikeouts, Stephen F. Austin's Katelyn Standley hit a double to center field before scoring on an Islanders' fielding error in the outfield on a Fraccastoro at-bat.
A&M - Corpus Christi quickly answered with a one in the bottom of the first to even the score at 1-1. With two outs, Cochran nailed a RBI single through the right side to bring Tefft across home plate. Tefft hit a one-out single to left field before advancing to third after Morse reached on an error and Carter hit a groundout.
The back-and-forth battle continued as SFA put a run up in the top of the second with two outs, after Carter sent both Ladyjacks down swinging to open the frame. After an error by the Islanders, Brittany Lewis hit a RBI double to right center to score Hamilton who reached on an Islanders' throwing error. Carter ended the frame with her fifth strikeout.
The Islanders rallied back to knot the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third. Tefft and Morse hit consecutive singles to start the frame before Cochran loaded the bases with a bunt single. Lindsey Lyles then stepped to the plate and ripped a RBI single through the middle to plate Tefft. The Islanders kept the bases loaded but a pair of fielder's choices left the Islanders stranded.
The Ladyjacks answered again in the top of the fourth with a run on two hits and one Islanders' error to push ahead 3-2. After a groundout and an Islanders' error put a Ladyjack on second, Alisa Hamilton hit a single to shortstop to put runners on the corners. Lewis then hit a RBI bunt single to plate Holloway. A fly out and pop fly then pulled the Islanders out of the frame leaving two Ladyjacks stranded.
After a scoreless fifth inning, A&M - Corpus Christi battled back in the bottom of the sixth to knot the game once more at 3-3. Hernandez hit a RBI single to left center to score Mendez who hit a one-out single through the middle.
The Islanders and Ladyjacks went neck-and-neck for the next two frames to force extra innings. In the top of the ninth with two outs, Fraccastoro hit a home run over the center field wall to push SFA ahead 4-3. The Islanders put runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the ninth after Galloway hit an infield single and Aspen Auger drew a walk, but a fly out by Griebel capped the game.
Katie Blanar (1-2) took the loss for the Islanders after coming in relief for Stephanie Flores in the top of the seventh. The sophomore limited the Ladyjacks to just one hit and one run while walking one and striking out one in three innings.
Guffey (4-9) also came in relief and picked up the win for SFA in 2.1 innings. She allowed just one hit while walking three and striking out one Islander.
