HAMMOND, Louisiana - The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team's season came to an end after competing in two win or go home matchups in the 2022 Southland Conference Tournament, surviving 4-3 at the start of the day against Northwestern State and then dropping the eliminating game 5-3 versus HBU Thursday night at North Oak Park.
Game one of the day had the No. 3 Islanders (25-27, 11-7) fighting until the last out against No. 4 Northwestern State (29-22,10-8), to knock the Lady Demons out of the tournament and secure the 4-3 win to start the day.
Northwestern State struck first, scoring on an error in the top of the first, however, a three-run inning by A&M-Corpus Christi in the next frame gave the Islanders the 3-1 lead, a lead they would never relinquish.
Junior
Pal Egan got a hit on her first at-bat of the day and was able to run home after a sacrifice bunt by fellow junior
Ashleigh Sgambelluri. A double by sophomore
Gabriella Torres, who was on deck behind Sgambelluri, scored both Sgambelluri and sophomore
Sydney Hoyt for the 3-1 score after the first.
A run was scored by both teams in the third to take the game to a close 4-2. A single RBI by junior
Madison Garza plated Torres for A&M-Corpus Christi's fourth and final score of the game. Northwestern State was on the edge of a comeback in the top of the seventh with bases-loaded, but relief pitcher senior
Grace Gilbert secured the three outs needed for the victory and advancement.
After surviving elimination for the second time in the tournament, the Islanders returned to the field later in the day to rematch No. 6 HBU (19-28, 4-13).
The second game of the day was scoreless through three full innings, with the first hit of the game not coming until HBU singled in the bottom of the third.
The top of the fourth is when the Islanders heated up, where it opened with Egan homering to right center for the 1-0 lead. Sgambelluri singled to left field, stole base and then advanced to third on a wild pitch to be in scoring position. A throwing error by the Husky catcher allowed Sgambelluri to take home for the 2-0 lead.
Torres would end the fourth with a triple, her second of the season and the team's third hit of the day, however, another score by the Islanders wouldn't occur until the sixth when Hoyt stole home to show a 3-0 lead on the board.
The game took a turn in favor of the Huskies in the bottom of the sixth when they scored all five of their runs for the 5-3 lead. Despite the Islanders getting two players on base in the seventh, the game ended with the Huskies advancing to the semifinal match, ending A&M-Corpus Christi's run in the postseason.
Despite the season ending, the 2022 campaign was successful in program history under first-year head coach
Kathleen Rodriguez. She led the Islanders to the program's most winningest season since 2011, first tournament appearance since 2015 and first tournament win since 2012.
This season was also the first time a student-athlete from the softball program won either Player of the Year or Hitter of the Year, in which Egan won both. She ended the year on a 29-game streak of reaching base.
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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