A&M-Corpus Christi Splits a Pair on Day Two of UTSA Classic

SAN ANTONIO – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball program bounced back to defeat UT Arlington 12-8 before falling to Kansas 9-5 on Saturday in the UTSA Classic at Roadrunner Field.
 
The first game was back-and-forth for the Islanders (5-4) against the Mavs (1-5). A&M-Corpus Christi led 5-0 in the third before UTA came back to grab a 7-5 advantage after five. The Islanders responded with four runs in the sixth and three in the seventh to ultimately prevail. A go-ahead grand slam by sophomore Sammi Thomas with two outs highlighted the day.
 
Game two was tight early with the game tied 3-3 in the third inning. The Jayhawks (3-4) broke it open late with a four-run sixth inning to pull away.
 
With a walk in game one and a homer in game two, sophomore Pal Egan has now reached base safely in all nine contests this year. Junior Tiler Noyola extended her hitting streak to five games.
 
The Islanders got on the board in their first at-bat against the Mavs as Noyola started the game with a homer to center. They tacked on three more in the second inning, which included a two-RBI single by Thomas to go up 4-0. A&M-Corpus Christi made it 5-0 on a first and third steal plate that brought in Egan.
 
UTA responded with two in the third, one in and fourth and five in the fifth to take a 7-5 lead.
 
A big sixth inning got-going all with two outs. After a walk by freshman BaileyPayne, a single by junior Tiare Lee and a walk by Noyola, Thomas delivered the grand slam to left field to regain a 9-7 edge.
 
The Islanders tacked-on three insurance runs in the seventh. It included RBI hits from Payne, freshman Gabriella Torres and a bases loaded walk by freshman Sydney Hoyt.
 
Noyola and Thomas each recorded multi-hit games. Noyola was two-for-three with two talks, two RBIs and three runs scored. Thomas finished two-for-five with a run and six RBIs.
 
Sophomore Beatriz Lara got the started and lasted 4.1 innings in a no-decision. Freshman Audrey McNeill earned the win after throwing 2.0 frames.
 
In game two, the Islanders went up 1-0 on a homer by sophomore Ashleigh Sgambelluri in the first inning.
 
After the Jayhawks plated three in the bottom half, A&M-Corpus Christi came back to tie it 3-3 on a passed ball and a wild pitch.
 
The Islanders trailed 5-3 in the sixth when Egan homered to left center to cut the deficit to 5-4. Though, Kansas pulled away late with four runs in the sixth inning to go up 9-5.
 
Sophomore Jenika Lombrana threw a complete-game. She struck out five in 6.0 innings.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi will look to close out the tournament strong with it faces host UTSA at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
 
Stay Social
For more information on Islanders Softball, keep up with the team via their Facebook page (Islanders Softball) and follow the program on Twitter (@IslandersSball) and Instagram (islanderssball). 
 
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