CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Winning its second conference series in a row, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team took game three 5-1 to clinch the series against Lamar Saturday at Chapman Field.
It was the first rubber match of the year for the Islanders (20-16, 8-7 SLC) and second SLC series win after sweeping A&M-Commerce last weekend. They now stand at a winning conference record for the first time this season after the weekend against Lamar (12-30, 5-10 SLC).
Getting her second win on the weekend was junior
Primrose Aholelei, throwing the complete-game and only giving up the one run. She struck out eight, two more than in her first appearance against the Cardinals, taking her season-total to 129 which moves her to first in the league. She also leads the Southland in wins with 15 after the day.
Big hits came from sophomore
Paolina Baez and junior
Taniece Tyson on the day, accounting for all of the team's RBIs. Baez drove in the first run of the day in fourth while Tyson found the gap in right center for the bases-clearing double to give the Islanders the 5-0 lead.
Also notching hits were senior
Gabriella Torres, junior
Sydney Hoyt, senior
Quinn De Avila, junior
Alina Jasso and freshman
Mimi Thornton, her career first.
Aholelei pitched three perfect innings to keep the Cardinals scoreless. A&M-Corpus Christi's offense then started heating up in the fourth inning.
Campion registered the two-out hit to get on base before stealing second during Baez's at-bat. It allowed her to get into scoring position as Baez hit the RBI-single and advanced on the throw to plate Campion and find herself on second with the 1-0 lead.
Another Lamar error allowed junior
Juliana J. Garcia to reach base as Baez ran home on the play to go up 2-0.
Another quick defensive effort took the Islanders to the bottom of the fifth looking to expand on their lead. Sophomore
Rhea-Ann Avalos drew the walk before Campion singled down the left field line to have two Islanders on base. Baez took the hit by pitch to load the bases as Tyson headed to the plate.
With two outs on the board, Tyson came in as a pinch hitter and drove it deep to right center as every runner rounded home for the three RBI-double. Up 5-0, the Islanders took a comfortable lead heading into the final two innings.
Lamar took away Aholelei's shutout as Cameron Niedenthal homered as the lead-off. It would be the only run by the Cardinals as Aholelei buckled down and got two of the last three outs on swinging strikeouts to secure the 5-1 win and clinch the series.
The Islanders will be away for the next two weeks, beginning their road trip at Northwestern State next weekend for a three-game series. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.
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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