CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team squared off with McNeese for a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Chapman Field. Facing the top team in the Southland Conference, the Islanders could not overcome five errors and solid pitching by the visitors, falling in both games, 7-1 and 4-0.
The Blue and Green (6-25, 1-10) strung together eight hits on the afternoon to 15 for the Cowgirls (27-13, 13-1).
GAME 1
The Islanders stayed within striking distance of the Cowgirls through five innings, but McNeese starting pitcher Rachel Smith (10-5) held the Blue and Green to five hits, before the visitors struck for five in the sixth.
Kandace Johnson (1-11) took over for Islanders starter
Liz Carter in the first inning with the bases loaded. The freshman held the league's leading offense scoreless with three groundouts.
The Cowgirls took the lead in the second on a sacrifice fly from Lauren Brown. Carleigh Chaumont scored from third after leading off the inning with a double to left center. McNeese added to its lead an inning later as Tori Yanitor came home when Alexandria Saldivar stole second.
The Islanders climbed back into the game in the bottom half of the fourth.
Lexi Shaw beat a throw from short for a leadoff infield single, followed by a
Savannah Sandoval single to right.
Mackinzee Griebel moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt. On a 2-2 count, Auger hit into a fielder's choice to score Shaw.
McNeese broke the game open in the sixth, scoring five runs on four hits and two errors. Brown grounded into a fielder's choice to plate one run, before a throwing error let Jamaiya Miller to score from second. Erika Piancastelli capped the frame with RBI knock to make it 7-1 in favor of the visitors.
Johnson took the loss after giving up four runs, three earned, in 4 2/3 innings of work. Carter surrendered three runs, two earned, through 1 1/3 innings.
Shaw led the way for the Blue and Green with a 2-for-3 day, her second multi-hit game of the season.
GAME 2
In the nightcap, Alexsandra Flores (9-3) followed Smith's lead in the circle. The McNeese hurler tossed a two-hit shutout behind five strikeouts.
Leading by one after a double steal in the second inning, the Cowgirls added a run with a Piancastelli RBI single. McNeese extended its lead when Justyce McClain drove in a pair of runs on a single through the right side in the fifth.
Johnson (1-12) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits with a pair of punchouts through four innings. Carter came on in relief for the final three frames, striking out two.
Johnson gave almost put the Islanders on the board in the first. The Atascocita native singled to left, but Sandoval was thrown out at home trying to score from Shaw extended her hitting streak to three games with a base knock in the sixth.
ON DECK
The Islanders and the Cowgirls finish the weekend series on Saturday with a first pitch slated for noon.
STAY SOCIAL
For all the latest information on Islanders Softball, be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@IslandersSBall) and like the team on Facebook (Islanders Softball).
- Go Islanders -
