MOBILE, Ala. – Day two of the South Alabama Invitational started bright and early for the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team. With two games starting before noon, the Islanders (2-9) could not find an answer to Middle Tennessee pitching in the opener, falling 4-0.
In game two, the Blue and Green tallied a season-high 10 hits and took a 3-2 lead into the sixth, only for Tennessee Tech to sneak a pair of runs to send Corpus Christi to a 4-3 loss.
GAME 1 vs. Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee pitcher Keely Greeer stole the show on Saturday morning in the first game, throwing a 2-hit shutout, as the Blue Raiders (7-4) bested the Islanders 4-0.
Greer held the Islanders hitless through four and finished with an impressive stat line of four strikeouts, two hits and one walk.
Lacey Boyd picked up a hit in her third straight game to break up the no-no.
Mackinzee Griebel added a base knock in the sixth.
Despite the slow offense, pitcher
Kandace Johnson (0-5) kept the Blue and Green in position to strike. The rookie went the distance, allowing 12 hits, four runs, three earned, and four walks. Defensively, the Islanders committed five errors.
The Blue Raiders had runners on base in every inning, but Johnson's pitching forced MTSU to strand 12.
KEY INNINGS
Top of the Fifth
Middle Tennessee benefited from two errors and played small-ball to drive in three runs on a trio of hits. Keely McGee, Dani Munoz and Kristin Uselton drove in runs on three consecutive at bats,
Top of the Sixth
The Blue Raiders added some insurance when Precious Birdsong stole third on a double steal and then sprinted home on a throwing error.
GAME 2 vs. Tennessee Tech
Boyd went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI in game two, as a trio of Islanders racked up multi-hit games.
Liz Carter made an impact offensively with her second RBI of the season, as well as her pitching. The Austin native went the distance scattering five hits and surrendering four runs with three of them earned. Carter struck out three and issued two free passes.
After the Golden Eagles (4-9) took the lead with a two-run top of the third, the Islanders bounced back in the bottom half of the inning with two of their own. Boyd and
Aspen Auger brought in runs on back-to-back singles.
Tech took the lead for good in the sixth, tying the game with a sacrifice bunt, before the decisive run came in on a throwing error with two outs. Leig Thomas took the win for the Golden Eagles in 4 1/3 inning of work fanning three batters.
KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the First
Lexi Shaw reached base on a walk and advanced to second. She scored on the single by Carter.
Top of the Third
The Golden Eagles put runners on first and second with two outs. Halli Davis lined a double to the gap in left to plate Dem Coleman and Aali Bevins.
Bottom of the Third
>> The Islanders responded with two runs on a trio of hits and an error.
>> Carter put runners on the corner after a fielder's choice.
>> Auger sent a 2-2 pitch through the left side to score Shaw from third and move Carter to second.
>> Boyd notched her first career RBI with a single to left, scoring Carter in the process.
Top of the Sixth
>> With runners on second and third with one out, Ash McGowan laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring home Davis.
>> Bayli Cruse reached on a fielding error that gave Amity Brown enough time to sprint home from third.
SEND OFF IN SOUTH ALABAMA
The Islanders will wrap up the South Alabama Invitational tomorrow at 10 a.m. against Middle Tennessee.
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