A&M-Corpus Christi's Pitchers Get the Sweep Over Texas Southern

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Senior Grace Gilbert and freshman Denay Smith both threw complete games to aid in the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team's doubleheader sweep over Texas Southern 6-2 and 7-1 on Tuesday at Chapman Field.

Gilbert and Smith both added wins to their records to help the Islanders (12-20, 0-3) top Texas Southern (11-14, 8-1) twice as both threw complete seven-inning games.

Gilbert made the start in game one over the Tigers to improve to 3-6 while also striking out three batters and only allowing two runs. Smith started game two and also improved to 3-6 as she struck out six batters and only gave up one run.

Game one had the Islanders striking first with three runs in the first and two more in the fourth before the Tigers finally got on the board with a pair of runs in the fifth. A hit by freshman Paolina Baez scored junior Madison Garza in the sixth to get the game's final score of 6-2.

In game two, the Tigers only scored once in the first inning before being shut out the rest of the way. Baez got another RBI single to pull in freshman Jaquelin Garza for A&M-Corpus Christi's first run of the game. The third and sixth innings each saw a trio of runs by the Islanders to help them secure the 7-1 win and sweep.

On the day, A&M-Corpus Christi recorded 13 runs off 12 hits. Seven different batters got hits for the Islanders with Baez and sophomore Sydney Hoyt getting at least one hit in both games. Baez mirrored her at-bats recording one hit, one run and one RBI while also being walked twice and getting a stolen base in both games. Hoyt hit a double in game two to take her hit total to three on the day and also recorded a run.

Junior Pal Egan went 2-3 in game one with three stolen bases and finished the day getting a run in both games after getting on base six different times. She improved her batting average to a .396 and continues to lead the team with 27 runs, 36 hits and 19 RBIs. 

Like Hoyt, sophomore Kimane Rogron hit a double to go 2-4 in game one. In game two, Rogron hit a SAC fly to drive in the fifth Islander run, giving her her second RBI of the day. Egan and Rogron are the only two players to have started in every game this season.

Junior MacKenzie Purcell made an appearance as a pinch hitter in the second game to earn her first hit of the season after singling to left field. After advancing to third to be put in scoring position, Purcell ran home off of Rogron's SAC fly to record her first run of the season as well.

A&M-Corpus Christi's two double hits of the day brings the season total to 45. The team leads the conference in doubles and ranks 43rd nationally (out of 293 ranked).

The Islanders will have a bye week this weekend before hitting the road to UTSA for a midweek game on Tuesday at Roadrunner Field at 6 p.m. CT. 

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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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