HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team outhit the Sam Houston State Bearkats 16-9 today en route to a pair of shutout victories and its third Southland Conference series win of the season. In the series opener, the Islanders earned a 3-0 win behind a balanced team performance at the Sam Houston State Softball Stadium. In the second game, the Islanders (11-21-1, 6-8 SLC) secured a 6-0 victory for their sixth shutout win of the season.
Sophomore Jessica Mendez finished 3-for-4 for a .750 batting average in the two games combined to power the Islanders' bats. Sophomore Mackinzee Griebel also had a strong day, going 2-for-4 and chipping in a pair of sacrifice hits.
Hurlers Liz Carter and Stephanie Flores both pitched complete games and allowed just nine hits on the day for a pair of shutout wins.
The Islanders and Bearkats (9-23, 2-11 SLC) will wrap the series tomorrow at 3 p.m.
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GAME 1: TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI 3, SAM HOUSTON STATE 0
The Islanders put up a pair of runs in the top of the third before adding an insurance run in the top of the fourth to earn a 3-0 victory in the series opener. With the win, the Islanders secured their fifth Southland Conference win of the season and their fifth shutout. Eight Islanders collected at least one hit apiece while Carter secured her fourth shutout win of the season and her eighth victory of the season. Sophomore Brittney Morse went 2-for-3 to help the Islanders outhit the Bearkats, 9-5.
After a scoreless first two innings, the Islanders' bats caught fire in the top of the third with four hits to help put the Islanders on the board, 2-0. Griebel led things off with an infield single before Cosette Hernandez followed suit with a single to third base. Dani Tefft then advanced Griebel and Hernandez on a groundout before Morse delivered a two-run single to center field for the first two runs of the game.
Carter kept the bats rolling with a single through the left side before the Bearkats had a pitching change. Following that a pair of groundouts left Islanders stranded at second and third.
After the Bearkats tallied a two-out single in the bottom of the third, Carter settled in and retired the side, to bring the Islanders back to the plate. Hayley Galloway then hit an infield single before Mendez did her job to advance Galloway to second with a sacrifice bunt. Griebel then followed with a groundout to land Galloway on third before Hernandez reached on an error by the Bearkats as Galloway came across home plate for the Islanders' third run of the game.
Carter continued to impress in the circle, as she didn't allow a Bearkat past second base until the bottom of the sixth when Sam Houston State loaded the bases. After a walk and a pair of singles, Carter and the Islanders' defense pulled out of the jam with a strikeout and pop fly.
In the final frame, Carter (8-12) retired the Bearkats in order to secure the win. She limited SHSU to five hits and one walk while picking up five strikeouts in seven innings. She earned her 21st-career win in the circle and is now one win away from tying two others in fourth place all-time.
GAME 2: TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI 6, SAM HOUSTON STATE 0
The Islanders jumped out to an early lead in the top of the second with two runs before adding a run in the fifth and three in the sixth to garner a 6-0 win over the Bearkats. Mendez finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs, while Mickayla Cochran, Morse, Galloway and Griebel each chipped in one hit apiece.
After a scoreless opening frame, Cochran ignited the Islanders' bats with a one-out double to right center. Senior Lindsey Lyles then reached on an error before a groundout by Galloway put runners in scoring position. With two outs, Mendez stepped to the plate and drilled a two-run single to center field to plate Cochran and Lyles. After an infield single by Griebel advanced Mendez to second, Hernandez hit a groundout to cap the frame.
The Bearkats put a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the second after a hit by pitch and fielder's choice, however, Flores retired the side with a strikeout and pop fly.
The Islanders once again escaped danger in the bottom of the third as the Bearkats loaded the bases. After an Islanders' error and back-to-back singles, Flores once again settled in and picked up a strikeout before an infield pop fly pulled the Islanders out of the jam.
Then in the top of the fifth, the Islanders padded its lead to 3-0 after Mendez scored on a RBI groundout by Hernandez after leading the frame off with a double down the left field line.
The Islanders kept the offense going as they put together a three-run top of the sixth on three hits. Morse hit a leadoff single through the left side before Alyson Bressie came in to pinch run. The junior then scored on a RBI fielder's choice by Cochran after Carter reached on an error. The Islanders plated their fifth run of the game after Mendez hit a two-out RBI single to left field to score Cochran. After another error by the Bearkats on a Griebel at-bat, Galloway scored after reaching on a single to left field.
The Islanders didn't allow a Bearkat past second base in the final two innings to secure their sixth Southland Conference win of the season.
Flores (2-7) earned the win for the Islanders in the circle. The junior gave up just four hits and three walks while recording eight strikeouts in seven innings.
