SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team stifled New Mexico State 8-4 Saturday afternoon and held on for a 6-4 victory over UTSA at night to go unbeaten in the first two days of the I-35 Tournament split between San Marcos and San Antonio.
The Islanders (6-2) have now won their last four straight, including two against NMSU (4-4). A&M-Corpus Christi has now improved to a winning record against the Aggies, now leading the all-time record 7-6.
In addition, the Islanders have now beaten UTSA (2-7) in eight of the last ten meetings.
Four Islanders saw time in the circle today, with sophomore
Siarah Galvan and junior
Primrose Aholelei garnering the wins today. Junior
Sydney Hoyt started the day and did 3.1 innings of work while freshman
Ariella Saenz threw for the final out in game two against the Roadrunners.
At least five Islanders got a hit in each game, with Hoyt getting two in game one and three in game two. Junior
Kimane Rogron got a trio of hits against the Aggies and senior
Quinn De Avila hit a pair in both.
The Islanders hit three home runs on the day, coming from Hoyt, De Avila and senior
Gabriella Torres.
GAME ONE – A&M-Corpus Christi 8, New Mexico State 4
The Aggies struck first and went up 3-0 through the first 1.5 innings. Though, the bottom of the second is when the Islanders heated up as Rogron led them off with a bunt single.
Freshman
Paolina Baez and senior
Alexandria Torres were both walked to load the bases before junior
Juliana J. Garcia drew the RBI walk for the first run of the day for the Islanders. Junior
Sidney Campion then singled up the middle to score Baez and Torres for the 3-3 tie.
The only other inning the Islanders would score in would be the fourth, though, it proved to be enough as five Islanders crossed home plate for the 8-3 lead.
De Avila opened with a double down the right field line to get in scoring position. Torres then advanced De Avila with the single up the middle for runners on the corners and Garcia loaded the bases after reaching on a fielder's choice.
Campion walked for another Islander run before Hoyt's single drove in two more. Senior
Gabriella Torres and Rogron got A&M-Corpus Christi's fourth and fifth hits of the inning to add two more runs to the board.
NMSU homered to right field in the next frame for another run, but the Islanders defense would hold off any rally as they closed out the 8-4 victory to start the day.
GAME TWO – A&M-Corpus Christi, UTSA
Garcia singled up the middle as the lead-off for the second game of the day, but neither team could score until De Avila nailed one over the left field fence for the solo home run in the second inning.
Junior
Primrose Aholelei struck out the batter and in the same play, G. Torres made the throwdown at second for the double-play to keep the Roadrunners scoreless through three.
The teams would remain quiet until the sixth when Hoyt hit a solo home run for the 2-0 lead. Though, UTSA responded with a home run of their own to make it a one-run game.
In the final inning of regulation, Hoyt struck again with an RBI single to drive sophomore
Riley Todd home. With runners on first and second, G. Torres then headed to the plate and blasted it over the fence for the three-run home run and 6-1 lead.
UTSA didn't back down, however, as they managed to plate three in the bottom frame. With bases-loaded and two outs, freshman
Ariella Saenz headed to the circle in relief and only threw three pitches before retiring the batter for the final out to secure the 6-4 win for the Islanders.
Next up, the Islanders will close out the weekend with another meeting with Abilene Christian on Sunday at 10 a.m. A&M-Corpus Christi beat the Wildcats last weekend in ACU's home tournament.
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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