LAKE CHARLES, La. – After being delayed nearly four hours due to weather, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team couldn't hold on to its lead as top-seeded McNeese came out on top of the 2-1 pitchers dual on day two of the SLC Tournament at Joe Miller Field.
The Islanders (24-23) held a 1-0 lead through four innings before the Cowgirls (41-14) were able to knot it up in the fifth off a solo homer. Junior
Primrose Aholelei kept McNeese quiet for five innings, striking out her season-high 11 through her career-high 146 pitches. Despite the effort, the Cowgirls squeaked out another run in the bottom of the seventh for the win.
Neither team could register more than three hits prior to the seventh inning.
Aholelei, the SLC Pitcher of the Year, posted seven strikeouts through the first three innings to strand four Cowgirls for the hot start in the circle. Both pitchers held off any runs until the Islanders found home in the fourth.
Senior
Alexandria Torres singled up the middle as the lead-off for the Islanders before her sister,
Gabriella Torres, advanced her to second on the groundout. Junior
Sydney Hoyt put the ball in play in the next at-bat and reached on the errant throw by the McNeese infield, advancing to second once the ball left the park and allowing Torres to make her way home for the 1-0 lead.
McNeese answered back soon after, finally striking in the bottom of the fifth with the solo shot to left center. Tied at 1-1, the Cowgirls walked it off in the bottom of the seventh for the 2-1 decision.
It was the first loss of the tournament for the Islanders, who won their opening game 3-2 over Lamar for the program's first trip to the Southland's winners bracket. In the double elimination setup, A&M-Corpus Christi remains alive and will face the winner of No. 3 Nicholls and No. 7 HCU, who play each other Thursday at 11 a.m., in a win-or-go-home matchup Thursday at 4 p.m.
The winner will advance to play on Friday after the updated schedule due to extended weather delays. The Islanders would then have to win two games on Friday in order to reach the championship game, now set for Saturday at 12 p.m.
Click here to view the full updated bracket. All games of the SLC Tournament can be watched live on ESPN+.
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