MOBILE, Ala. – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team returned to the field after a week off to open the South Alabama Invitational. The Islanders (2-7) scratched five hits across two games, falling to Tennessee Tech and South Alabama, 2-0 and 7-0, respectively.
GAME 1, vs. Tennessee Tech
In the opener,
Kandace Johnson (0-4) was on the unfortunate end of the tough-luck loss. The freshman had a career afternoon with six strikeouts. Johnson gave up two runs, one earned, while scattering five hits and walking one.
Corpus Christi tallied a pair of hits from
Mackinzee Griebel and
Aspen Auger. Golden Eagles pitcher (2-8) Danielle Liberatore (1-4) kept the Islanders' bats at bay with nine punchouts and one walk.
KEY INNINGS
Top of the First
>> Griebel picked up an infield single, but was caught stealing during the next at bat
Bottom of the First
>> Johnson faced her first jam of the day, as the Golden Eagles moved a player to third on a single and wild pitch.
>>
Megan Mitchell fired a grounder to second home in time to erase the threat.
Top of the Second
>>
Aspen Auger singled through the left side with one out, only to be left stranded.
Bottom of the Second
>> Halli Davis brought home the first run of the game on a sac fly. Cal Griffin was on third after an error.
>> Johnson responded with strikeout to close the inning.
Bottom of the Third and Fourth
>> Johnson sent the next six batters back to the dugout, including a pair of punchouts.
Bottom of the Fifth
>> Tech put runners on second and third with no outs. Johnson calmly handled the pressure by retiring the next three batters.
Bottom of the Sixth
>> Al Richards doubled to left center with two outs, before Bayli Cruse brought her home with a single on the next at bat.
GAME 2, at South Alabama
Host South Alabama (11-1) did their damage early, scoring six runs in the first two innings. Islanders starting pitcher
Liz Carter (2-3) shook of the rough start to retire 12 of the next 16 batters.
The senior was on the hook for the loss, but gave up one earned run on the night, fanned four and surrendered nine hits.
Jade Torres, in just her second at bat on the Island, singled in the lead off the top of the seventh, while
Savannah Sandoval and
Lacey Boyd added base knocks.
In the circle for South Alabama, Destin Vicknair struck out six, walked one and gave up two hits in six innings of work.
KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the First
>> The Jaguars loaded the bases with a single, error and a walk with one out.
>> After Carter rung up the next batter, Haleigh Lane connected on 3-RBI double to left center.
>> Next batter up, Savanna Mayo, plated Lane on a single.
Bottom of the Second
>> South Alabama added unearned runs on a wild pitch and a single.
Top of the Fourth
>> The Islanders had their best opportunity.
Aspen Auger reached base on a hit by pitch and advanced to second on the Boyd single, but the Blue and Green could not bring a runner home.
Bottom of the Sixth
>> The Jaguars tallied their final run of the game on an RBI triple from Haleigh Lane with two outs.
NOTABLES
>> The Islanders stranded eight runners between the two games, while keeping 14 runners on base for the opponents.
>> Friday was the first meeting with the Jaguars and the Golden Eagles in Islanders' history.
ON DECK
The Islanders play a pair of early contests against Middle Tennessee and Tennessee Tech at 9 and 11:30 a.m., respectively.
STAY SOCIAL
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- Go Islanders -
