Islanders Split Marathon Doubleheader After Egan's Walk-Off

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - After dropping game one 2-1 in a 12-inning heartbreaker, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team rallied against Northwestern State to win game two of the doubleheader 4-3 with junior Pal Egan's walk-off on Friday at Chapman Field.

In week three of conference play, the Islanders (13-22, 1-4) and the Demons (14-24, 6-2) squared off in two grueling matches to split the day. Both wins were decided by only one run which came in the last inning of the games.

Game one had A&M-Corpus Christi get on the board first in the second inning after an error by the Demons scored junior Ashleigh Sgambelluri. Northwestern State got on board in the fourth to tie the game 1-1 and the game went scoreless for eight innings until the Demons got their second run of the game in the 12th inning to get the 2-1 win.

This was Sgambelluri's second game back since being injured back in February. In additon to her run, she went 2-5 at the plate while also being walked once.

All six of A&M-Corpus Christi's hits came between the seventh and 12th innings in the first game. Sgambelluri's two hits made up the six along with three hits by Egan and one by sophomore Kimane Rogron.

Freshman Siarah Galvan made the start in the circle for game one and pitched for 11 innings before re-entry rules stopped her short of a complete game. Through the 11 innings, Galvan struck out seven at the plate while only letting up one run.

Game two was also a tight matchup that had Northwestern State getting on the board first this time. A single run by the Demons in the third took the game to 1-0 before the Islanders came out big in the fourth to score three. Runs by sophomore Sydney Hoyt, Rogron and junior Madison Garza gave the Islanders the 3-1 lead.

Two runs by the Demons in the sixth tied the game 3-3 and risked another extra-inning game going into the bottom of the seventh. 

Leading off for the Islanders in the seventh of game two was sophomore Gabriella Torres who was walked. Egan headed to the plate with one down and on the 2-1 count, hit a double to left field to send Torres home for the 4-3 walk-off win.

Sophomore Audrey McNeill got the win in the circle for the Islanders in game two after coming in relief in the sixth. It marked her second win of the season.

Egan has now improved her batting average to a .412 which currently tops the program's single-season batting average record (.401). Her slugging percentage (.648) and on-base percentage (.545) also top the program's single-season records.

Hoyt and Egan both reached base at least once during both games, extending their streak of reaching base to 12 games, tying the team-longest previously set by Egan earlier this season.

This marked A&M-Corpus Christi's third walk-off win this season. The team outscores opposition 16-9 in the seventh inning.

The winner of the series will be determined following game three of the series, set to begin at noon on Saturday. The game can be watched on the Islander Digital Network.

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). 
 
#ShakasUp