SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team dropped a 5-4 heartbreaker to Texas State tonight in eight innings. After falling behind 4-0, the Islanders rallied back in the top of the sixth with the help of sophomore Brittney Morse, who cranked her first career grand slam to tie the game at 4-4. However, a walk-off home run by the Bobcats (26-19) in the bottom of the eighth lifted the home team to victory at the Bobcat Softball Stadium in non-conference action.
It marked the third extra-inning game of the season for the Islanders (15-25-1) who tallied six hits in the game. Morse and sophomore Mackinzee Griebel both finished 2-for-3 to lead the Islanders' bats while junior Dani Tefft and senior Mickayla Cochran each added one hit apiece.
Texas State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. After a leadoff single to left field and a walk, Kimberlin Naivar advanced the Bobcats to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Kendall Wiley then scored on a wild pitch for the first run of the game. Lexi Fryar followed with a RBI double to left field to score Taylor Webb, who drew a walk, to give the Bobcats a 2-0 lead.
Morse recorded the Islanders' first hit of the game in the top of the fourth after she ripped a two-out single to right center.
The Bobcats extended their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth with two runs on two hits. After a one-out walk, Kortney Koroll hit a two-run home run over the right center wall. Wiley followed with a double down the left field before a walk put Bobcats on first and second. However, the Islanders pulled out of the frame with a fly out to left field.
The Islanders then rallied back in the top of the sixth with four runs on three hits to tie the game at 4-4. Griebel started things off with a single through the left side before junior Cosette Hernandez reached on a fielder's choice as Griebel was called out on the play. The Islanders then put runners on first and second with one out after freshman Ashleigh Perez came in to pinch hit for Tefft and drew a walk. Cochran kept the momentum going with a single to center field to load the bases for Morse. The sophomore then stepped to the plate and cranked her first career grand slam over the left center wall to tie the game. It marked Morse's eighth home run of the season and her 16th of her career to place her in a tie in fifth place all-time in the Islanders' career records.
With neither team able to push any runs across in the seventh, the two battled in the eighth and with one out, Sara Rupp sent a solo home run over the left field wall to give the Bobcats the victory.
Junior Stephanie Flores (4-8) took the loss for the Islanders in the circle. She allowed seven hits, five runs and seven walks while striking out two in 7.1 innings.
The Islanders will now head to Abilene, Texas to take on Abilene Christian in a three-game Southland series. The Islanders will play a doubleheader against the Wildcats on Friday, April 24, before finishing the series on Saturday, April 25.
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