SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team officially ushered in the
Blake Miller era and 2017 season on Friday afternoon at the CenturyLink Classic, hosted by Texas State. The Islanders opened the season against Iowa and played Texas Tech in the nightcap.
In the opening game, the Islanders (0-2) tallied four hits in an 8-0 loss to Iowa. The Hawkeyes (2-0) scored eight runs on nine hits and one error, while starting pitcher Shayla Starkenburg (1-0) recorded four strikeouts and two walks for the win.
Islanders starting pitcher
Liz Carter (0-1) held Iowa at bay through the first four innings, allowing just two runs on four hits, before the Big Ten foes closed out the game with six runs, including a pair of home runs, over the final two innings.
NOTABLES vs. Iowa
>> The Islanders are now 2-1 all time against the Hawkeyes. A&M-Corpus Christi topped Iowa in the season opener in 2016.
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Savannah Sandoval,
Mackinzee Griebel,
Megan Mitchell and
Aspen Auger recorded the four hits for the Islanders. Three of the four hits came in the bottom of the third.
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Candice Hadd and
Lacey Boyd drew the walks against Starkenburg.
>> Boyd,
Kandace Johnson and
Alexis Richardson made their debuts in the Blue and Green.
>> Mallory Kilian led the Hawkeyes going 1-for-3 with four RBI.
KEY INNINGS vs. Iowa
- Top of the Third
>> Iowa took the lead on an RBI single from Cheyenne Pratt, before Kilian made it 2-0 on a sacrifice fly.
- Bottom of the Third
>> The Islanders had their best opportunity to score on the afternoon. After Sandoval was caught stealing, Mitchell and Griebel singled in back-to-back at bats, before Richardson loaded the bases on a walk. Down 0-2 in the count with the bases full, Carter fought off a pitch, only for it to drift to the first baseman.
- Top of the Fifth
>> With one on and two out, the Hawkeyes added to their lead with a home run from Allie Wood.
- Top of the Sixth
>> Iowa added four runs in the sixth inning. Kaitlyn Mullarkey capped her 2-for-2 day with an RBI double, before Killian homered to left for three RBI.
TAKING ON TECH
The Islanders wrapped up Opening Day with the nightcap against Texas Tech. The Blue and Green generated the same amount of offense as the opener, but failed to drive in any runs, falling 7-0.
Red Raiders (1-1) hurler Hannah Broseman (1-0) scattered four hits with four strikeouts.
Kandace Johnson stepped into the circle for the first time in her career, going the distance.
NOTABLES vs. Texas Tech
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Kandace Johnson (0-1) was in the circle for the first time in her career. She took the loss after surrendering 13 hits and seven earned runs.
>> Griebel and Hadd added a hit in the second game, while Boyd and Shaw delivered the first base knocks of their careers.
>> Playing all six innings, Johnson threw exactly 100 pitches.
>> Boyd made her first appearance behind the plate and caught a Red Raider stealing in the second.
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Lexi Shaw played in her first game as an Islander.
KEY INNINGS vs. Texas Tech
- Bottom of the First
>> Johnson sent her first career batter back to the dugout on a strikeout swining.
>> Raina O'Neil lifted the first pitch of her at bat over the left field wall to put the Red Raiders up 2-0.
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Top of the Third
>> Johnson roped a ball down the left field line for a double to open the inning.
Lexi Shaw's sacrifice bunt moved the Atascocita native over to third, but the Blue and Green could not bring her home.
- Bottom of the Fifth
>> After a successful double steal, the Red Raiders added a run on Brittany Warnecke RBI single.
- Top of the Sixth
>> Back-to-back singles by Griebel and Hadd led to runners on the corners for the Blue and Green with two outs.
- Bottom of the Sixth
>> Kayla Workman gave Texas Tech its largest lead of the game with a two-run home run.
BACK AT IT ON SATURDAY
The Islanders return to the diamond for at 12:30 p.m. first pitch against host Texas State on Saturday, before taking on Southland Conference foe Abilene Christian in a non-conference tilt at 5 p.m.
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- Go Islanders -
