SAN MARCOS, Texas – With three strikeouts in the first inning, it was apparent that
Liz Carter had found her groove on Sunday afternoon in the final day of the CenturyLink Classic, hosted by Texas State, but what transpired over the next six innings was truly remarkable.
Carter (1-2) recorded her second career no-hitter, as the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team topped Texas Tech 2-0 for the first win in the
Blake Miller era.
"Today, I'm proud of our girls," head coach
Blake Miller said. "They came out and battled today. Liz came out and just went after hitters. The biggest thing for her was to prove to herself that if she challenges everybody, she can carry this team. The team rallied around her and put some runs up on the board to get the win."
The Austin native was dealing all day for the Islanders (1-4), striking out nine and surrendering just two walks. The Blue and Green kept the no-no intact with several defensive plays.
Mackinzee Griebel ended the fourth inning on a diving catch in shallow center, while
Lexi Shaw robbed a home run from Raina O'Neal in the bottom of the seventh.
Carter chipped in at the plate as well with a pair of base knocks, as the Islanders set a season high offensively with six hits. Freshmen
Kandace Johnson and Shaw had multi-hit games for the first time in their careers.
Johnson provided the tipping point for the Islanders. In the top of the sixth with one on and one out, the Atascocita native crushed a ball over the wall in left to give the Blue and Green the lead.
CARTER COUNTER
>> Carter now has two career no-hitters, after shutting down Prairie View last year.
>> The Austin native dealt nine strikeouts on the afternoon, one shy of her total against the Bears last season.
>> Carter threw 93 pitches for the win with 64 strikes.
NOTABLES
>> The Islanders are now 7-7 all time against the Red Raiders (3-2), after splitting a pair of games this weekend.
>> Despite not scoring in the opening four innings, the Islanders chased Texas Tech starting pitcher Dominique Alcocer from the game with three hits, while reliever Hannah Broseman took the loss.
>> With a pair of hits, Johnson is now hitting .400 on the season.
KEY INNINGS
- Bottom of the First
>> Carter started her day off strong, ringing the first three Red Raiders up on strikes with just 12 pitches.
- Top of the Third
>> The Islanders had their best opportunity of the tournament to score after a base hit from Shaw. The Houston native reached third after a pair of groundouts, only to be left stranded at the end of the inning.
- Bottom of the Third
>> Carter surrendered her first walk of the game to Ashley Fultz, but the Islanders ace bounced back to punch out the final two batters of the inning.
- Top of the Fourth
>> Carter nearly broke the scoreless streak for A&M-Corpus Christi. With
Aspen Auger on first after a walk, Carter belted a ball off the wall in center-field wall for a double. Waved around third, Auger was narrowly beaten home by the ball.
- Top of the Sixth
>> Griebel opened the inning by reaching on an error by the first baseman. Johnson stepped to the plate and delivered a first-pitch homer for the first of her career.
- Bottom of the Seventh
>> Carter needed 11 pitches to finish the final frame, striking out Jessica Hartwell with three straight strikes for the win.
QUOTES
HEAD COACH BLAKE MILLER
On the defensive play…
The defense played well. They settled down and starting playing the way they needed to play. Lexi running that down was huge to keep the no-hitter. The biggest thing was that they played to win.
On what this win means…
This team just gets excited. They know the feeling what it's like to go out and challenge someone and win. It will help us in the future, especially after watching Liz go after hitters all day.
LIZ CARTER | SR. | P
On her mindset entering today…
I was not going to pitch timid today. If they hit it, they hit it. I think I was worrying too much earlier in the weekend. I just focused on hitting my spots and showing them who I was.
On when she noticed the no-hitter…
I think I realized what was happening in the fifth inning. I didn't want to think or speak about it, but I knew we were going to win, even if they got a hit off of me. When I went back out there in the sixth and seventh innings, the reality of it hit me.
ON DECK
The Islanders play their first midweek doubleheader of the year on Wednesday. A&M-Corpus Christi travels to Texas Southern to face the Tigers at 4 and 6 p.m.
STAY SOCIAL
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- Go Islanders -
