CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas- Texas A&M Corpus Christi Softball cracked open their fourth Southland Series of the season against Abilene Christian University on March 30th. Hosting the Wildcats in the weekend competition, the Islanders fell early in the opening game 0-8 but showed strong signs of resiliency and dominated ACU in the doubleheader closer 7-0.
Game One
Abilene Christian set the offensive tempo early in the first inning against the Islanders, loading up the bases and registering an RBI from a fielders choice. The Wildcats continued to extend the lead for the remaining five innings with seven additional runs, five of those being unearned. Fighting to make a mark on the score sheet, ACU's pitching staff held the Islanders to a scoreless game allowing only six total hits and five left on base for all seven innings.
Kaylee Hoppens,
Kandace Johnson,
Destiney Diaz,
Kaylon Dunn, and
Avery Ratcliff were capable of registering a hit against the Wildcats in the SLC opener. Pitching all seven innings, Junior pitcher
Ashley Smith struck out five batters, committed only three errors, and did not walk any ACU player throughout the entire game.
KEY INNINGS
Top of the 1st
>> B. Barnhill reached on a fielder's choice, scoring B. Hamilton for a single RBI.
Top of the 3rd
>> B. Brookreson advanced to third and scored an unearned run.
Top of the 4th
>> C. Adair scored an unearned run from on an error by the catcher.
Top of the 5th
>> B. Barnhill advanced to third and scored an unearned run from a 3b throwing error.
Top of the 6th
>> K. Keeling sigled to the pitcher, bringing in B. Hamilton for an RBI.
Top of the 7th
>> K. Belch advanced to third from a error and score an unearned run. B. Barnhill advanced to third right after and scored an unearned run from the error.
Game Two
Returning from an unfortunate opener, the Islanders bounced back on both sides of the field as they dominated the Wildcats 30 minutes after the first competition.
Destiney Diaz knocked on sheet early for the Blue and Green with a single, scoring in Sophomore pitcher
Kandace Johnson and Freshman catcher
Whitney Wendel for a pair of RBI. The Senior infielder recorded a season-high of 4 RBI's on March 30th, while tallying a single run from the assistance of Junior outfielder
Keagan Helson late in the third inning. The Islanders continued the offensive frenzy in the third frame as:
>>
Taelor Thomas and
Avery Ratcliff scored on a Wildcat error from the catcher.
>>
Destiney Diaz singled and advanced to second on the throw, scoring
Whitney Wendel and
Taelor Thomas for another pair of RBI.
>>
Keagan Helson singled up the middle to bring in Diaz.
Helson put up the final run of the game for the Blue and Green with a single from
Katrina Jackson. Only being at bat twice,
Whitney Wendel was able to pull together a couple runs for the Blue and Green's 7-run victory. While having a very well-responsive offensive tempo in the second competition against ACU, Sophomore pitcher
Kandace Johnson contained the Wildcats defensively as she registered six total strike outs, zero errors, zero runs, and only a single walk throughout all seven innings. The Atascoctia native records her second shut-out of the season for the Islanders, the first being against Prairie View on February 21st.
KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the 1st
>>
Destiney Diaz singles out at second, scoring
Kandace Johnson and
Whitney Wendel for a pair of RBI.
Bottom of the 3rd
>>
Taelor Thomas stole second;
Avery Ratcliff scored an unearned run from a throwing error by the catcher.
>>
Destiney Diaz singles and advances to second on the throw, scoring
Whitney Wendel and
Taelor Thomas for a double RBI.
>>
Keagan Helson singles up the middle, bringing in
Destiney Diaz for an RBI.
>>
Katrina Jackson singles and advances to second on the throw, scoring
Keagan Helson for an RBI.
COMING UP NEXT
Texas A&M Corpus Christi will conclude their fourth SLC Series, against the Wildcats, at 11 a.m. on March 31st at Chapman Field. The Blue and Green will then travel to Lake Charles, La. where they will face McNeese State in the fifth Southland Series of the season. The 3-game competition commences on April 6th with a doubleheader opener at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.; concluding on April 7th at 1 p.m.
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 -
