Approaching Fifth SLC Series

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas- Texas A&M Corpus Christi will be away from the Island this weekend as they compete against McNeese State at Lake Charles, La. Heading into their fifth Southland Series of the 2018 season, TAMU-CC slate off the the three-game stand on April 6th with a doubleheader opener at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.; concluding game for the SLC Series against the Cowgirls commences on April 7th at 1 p.m.

PREVIOUS GAME ON THE ISLAND
The Blue and Green hosts went 1-2 against Abilene Christian in their fourth Southland Series on March 30th and 31st. Splitting the doubleheader opener, ACU sealed the first competition 0-8 but were immediately handled by the Islanders in the following game 7-0. Concluding the weekend series, ACU edged off the Islanders 1-6 for their final game. The Wildcats set the offensive tempo early in the first game, as they loaded up the bases and registered an RBI from a fielders choice top of the first. Abilene Christian extended the lead for the remaining five innings as they registered seven additional runs, five being unearned. As the Islanders tried to make an offensive response toward this 8-run deficit, ACU's pitching staff held Texas A&M Corpus Christi to only six total hits while only leaving five on base for all seven innings. Kaylee Hoppens, Kandace Johnson, Destiney Diaz, Kaylon Dunn, and Avery Ratcliff were the five Islanders that recorded a hit against the Wildcats. Junior Ashley Smith stayed in the circle for all seven frames, striking out five batters and holding zero walks against Abilene Christian in their first game. The Islanders did not hinder from this defeat, whatsoever, bouncing back and dominating the Wildcats on both sides of the field. Senior infielder Destiney Diaz knocked on the sheet early for the Blue and Green with a single to score Sophomore pitcher Kandace Johnson and Freshman catcher Whitney Wendel for a pair of RBI. Diaz also tallied a single run from the assistance of Junior outfielder Keagan Helson. TAMU-CC maintained their offensive frenzy in the third frame of the competition as: 
>> Tealor 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 her second pair of RBI.
>> Keagan Helson single to score Diaz for an RBI.
>> Katrina Jackson singles to run in Keagan Helson for an RBI.
Concluding the weekend series against the Wildcats, ACU pulled away the final game from the Islanders 6-1 on March 31st. The Blue and Green were tenacious in the first five frames, keeping the Wildcats scoreless and registering a run late in the fourth inning from Destiney Diaz's single up the middle to bring in Whitney Wendel for an RBI. ACU, however, were able to break through in the sixth and seventh inning with 6 total runs and seal the win.


SCOUTING THE COWGIRLS
>> Junior outfielder Justyce McClain leads the Cowgirls batting squad with a .426 BA.
>> Pitching in 95.1 innings, Sophomore Alexsandra Flores holds a 2.13 era with 55 strikeouts under her belt.
>> McNeese State softball will be heading into their fifth SLC Series of the season against the Islanders, clinching their recent conference competition against Northwestern State University 2-1.

NOTES
>> Sophomore pitcher Kandace Johnson contained the Wildcats for all seven frames as she registered six total strike outs, zero errors, no runs, and only a single walk on March 30th. The Atascocitia native recorded her second shut-out of the season for the Islanders, the first being against Prairie View on February 21st.
>> Senior infielder Destiney Diaz recorded a season-high of 4 RBI's on March 30th against the Wildcats. Diaz holds a .353 BA, currently the highest in conference for the Blue and Green.

COMING UP NEXT
The Blue and Green will be returning to the Island for their sixth Southland Series of the 2018 season against Sam Houston State. The weekend series slates off with a doubleheader opener on April 13th at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.; concluding competition against the Bearkats is on April 14th at 12 p.m.

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