Islanders Blank Lamar Twice in Lopsided Doubleheader Sweep

BEAUMONT, Texas – In what was a nearly flawless day of softball for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the Islanders swept a doubleheader 6-0 and 11-0 over Lamar on Friday at the LU Softball Complex.
 
Sophomores Beatriz Lara and Jenika Lombrana each threw complete-game shutouts in the circle. Lara struck out six batters in seven innings in game one for A&M-Corpus Christi (11-11, 4-1 SLC), while Lombrana went the distance and allowed just two hits from Lamar (2-23, 0-5 SLC) in game two.
 
At the plate, freshman Haley Morse turned in a career day. She combined to go 5-for-7 with a whopping six RBIs in the two contests. Sophomore Sammi Thomas stayed hot and also went 5-for-7 to increase her batting average in conference to .643.
 
The Islanders out-hit the Cardinals 25-5 in the doubleheader.
 
In game one, Thomas went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and three runs scored. Sophomore Ashleigh Sgambelluri finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Morse and sophomore Alyssa Escamilla also registered multi-hit outings.
 
The Islanders got on the board with two runs in their first at-bat. It came on RBI singles by Sgambelluri and Morse.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi scored two more in the fourth to go up 4-0. After back-to-back singles by Thomas and Sgambelluri started the inning, the duo stole second and third, and Thomas came in to score on an errant throw. An infield single by sophomore Pal Egan plated Sgambelluri.
 
The final two runs came in the fifth. The first run came on an error as Escamilla touched home plate, while the second came after a triple by Thomas and a wild pitch.
 
Lara improved to 7-2 on the season and 3-0 in conference. She allowed just three hits and one walk. It was her fifth complete-game of the year and she lowered her ERA to 2.31.
 
Freshman Alie Alcantar made her first career start and went 1-for-2 with a single and a sacrifice.
 
Like game one, the night cap started the same way with two runs in the first inning for the Islanders. It came on a clutch two out hit by Morse down the right field line to score Thomas and Sgambelluri.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi increased its advantage to 5-0 in the third. The inning was highlighted by a solo home run to left field by freshman Gabriella Torres.
 
The Islanders broke it open with four runs in the fourth to go up 9-0. A two RBI double to center by Morse got the scoring started in the frame and was followed by an RBI triple by junior Tiler Noyola. A&M-Corpus Christi also garnered a run on a wild pitch.
 
In the fifth, the Islanders added two more to lead 11-0. The runs came on a bases loaded walk by Egan and an RBI single to right by Morse.

The game was called after five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.
 
Lombrana picked up her third win of the season after allowing just two hits. It was her third complete game of the year.
 
Sophomore MacKenzie Purcell went 2-for-3 in the game with two RBIs.
 
With the sweep, A&M-Corpus Christi solidified its first series win over Lamar since 2014. The Islanders also opened league play with consecutive series wins for the first time since 2011. A&M-Corpus Christi will go for the sweep on Saturday and the start time was moved up to 12 p.m.
 
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