CORPUS CHRISTI – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team swept Incarnate Word today in a doubleheader at Chapman Field to clinch a spot in the upcoming Southland Conference Tournament. The Islanders (20-26-1, 15-11 SLC) put together a strong sixth inning to secure a 2-0 win in the first game before shutting the Cardinals (12-39, 4-23 SLC) out 4-0 in the second game.
Prior to the opening game, the Islanders honored seniors Mickayla Cochran, Hayley Galloway and Lindsey Lyles as they competed in their final home games at Chapman Field. Cochran hit 4-for-6 to lead the Islanders' bats while sophomore Liz Carter hit .500 at the plate and earned her second win of the weekend in the circle.
The Islanders will now head to the Southland Conference Tournament for the first time since 2012 and will await their opponent and seed. The tournament is hosted by Northwestern State on May 6-8 in Natchitoches, La.
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GAME 1: TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI 2, INCARNATE WORD 0
After a scoreless first five innings, the Islanders' bats came alive in the bottom of the sixth with two runs on four hits to take a 2-0 lead. The Islanders held on to win and earn their seventh shutout victory of the season.
Cochran finished 2-for-3 to propel the Islanders' bats while Cosette Hernandez, Mackinzee Griebel, Brittney Morse, Jessica Mendez, Carter and Galloway all chipped in one hit apiece to help the Islanders edge the Cardinals in the hit column, 8-7.
The Islanders put runners in scoring position in the bottom of the second but were unable to push any runs across. Mendez led off the frame with a single through the middle before Carter reached on a Cardinal throwing error. With Islanders on the corners, UIW retired the side to pull out of the jam.
Incarnate Word also threatened to score in the fifth and sixth frames but left five total runners stranded. In the fifth, after a trio of singles with one out, the Islanders escaped after a pair of fly outs. A&M - Corpus Christi's defense was once again stellar in the sixth leaving a pair of Cardinals stranded at second and third.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Islanders came out strong with back-to-back singles by Cochran and Morse. After a sacrifice bunt by Mendez advanced Cochran to third and junior Alyson Bressie, who came in to pinch run for Morse, to second. Carter stepped to the plate and ripped a two-run single through the middle to bring Cochran and Bressie across home plate. Galloway followed with an infield single before a groundout ended the frame.
Incarnate Word put runners on the corners in the top of the seventh, but hurler Stephanie Flores capped the game with her sixth strikeout of the game.
Flores (5-8) earned her third complete game shutout and her fifth win of the season in the Islanders' circle. She allowed seven hits and two walks in seven innings.
Brooke DuBois (5-12) suffered the loss for the Cardinals in six innings. She allowed eight hits and two runs while striking out two batters.
GAME 2: TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI 4, INCARNATE WORD 0
The Islanders' bats came out strong in the opening frame with one run on three hits to take an early 1-0 lead. The Islanders maintained their lead before tacking on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth en route to a 4-0 win. It marked the Islanders eighth shutout win of the season and hurler Liz Carter's fifth complete game shutout of the season.
Cochran finished 2-for-3 while Hernandez, Morse, Carter, Bressie and Galloway all collected one hit apiece. A&M - Corpus Christi outhit the Cardinals for the third straight game, 7-4.
Hernandez started things off with a single to right field before being called out at second on a fielder's choice by Griebel. Cochran then drilled an infield single to land Griebel on second. Morse reached on a fielder's choice, but Griebel was called out on the play as Cochran advanced to third on a Cardinal throwing error. With runners on the corners, Carter nailed a RBI single to left center to plate Cochran and give the Islanders a 1-0 lead.
Carter retired the first seven Cardinals she faced before Natalie Duron recorded UIW's first hit of the game in the top of the third with a single to right field. The Islanders however escaped the frame leaving two Cardinals stranded.
The Islanders extended their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth after pushing three runs across on two hits. Morse gave the Islanders momentum as she led off the frame with her 11th home run of the season. She now has 19 career home runs, which ties Katie Evans (2001-04) in second place all-time in the Islanders records. Following the home run, Carter drew a walk, before Bressie came in to pinch hit for Mendez. In just her 11th at-bat this season, Bressie blasted a RBI triple down the left field line to score Carter. Galloway then hit a RBI groundout to first to bring Bressie across home plate for the Islanders' fourth run of the game.
The Islanders held the Cardinals in the final three frames to earn the sweep and a spot in the Southland Conference Tournament.
Carter (14-16) held the Cardinals to just four hits and one walk while striking out three in seven innings.
Kristin Hebert (5-19) took the loss for UIW in the circle. She allowed seven hits, four runs, three of them earned, while walking one in six innings.
