LAKE CHARLES, La. – Advancing to the winner's bracket for the first time since joining the league, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team held off Lamar's late rally for the 3-2 edge in the opening game of the SLC Tournament Tuesday at Joe Miller Field.
It marked the first time in program history that the Islanders (24-22) won its opening game of the SLC Tournament and won as the No. 5 seed. It is also the first time the program has won a game in the tournament in back-to-back years since the 2011-12 seasons.
Junior
Sydney Hoyt was the offensive difference in the game after her two-run home run in the first inning pulled the Islanders ahead for a lead never relinquished. Junior
Primrose Aholelei, the SLC Pitcher of the Year, then proved her title on the defensive end as she struck out 10 batters including in the final at-bat to stunt Lamar's (20-33) comeback.
Hoyt drew two walks in the game to reach base in her other at-bats, including in the sixth when the Islanders scored what ultimately was the go-ahead run.
Junior
Kimane Rogron, sophomore
Paolina Baez, and senior
Gabriella Torres also registered a hit in the victory. The hit by Torres extended her hitting-streak to eight games and is also now on a 14-game streak of reaching base.
Junior
Juliana J. Garcia drew the lead-off walk in the first, putting herself on base prior to Hoyt's blast for the early 2-0 lead.
Aholelei then showed her arm by striking out five straight Cardinals through the first two innings. She retired 10 in a row before Lamar reached base in the fourth.
In the sxith, Torres singled up the middle as the lead-off before Hoyt drew the no-out walk for two runners on. Baez then loaded the bases with the single to center before sophomore
Riley Todd entered as a pinch runner for Hoyt.
A fielder's choice on the next play forced Torres out at home, but on-deck was Rogron who put the ball in play and reached on an error as Todd ran home for A&M-Corpus Christi's third run of the game.
The Cardinals weren't done fighting, as a lead-off triple helped them plate their first run of the game in the bottom frame following a sacrifice fly. Another extra-base hit advanced a runner to third who scored on the next play to get Lamar within one. However, Aholelei retired the next two to keep the Islanders ahead 3-2.
Lamar continued to threaten in the bottom of the seventh, getting runners on second and third with two outs. Aholelei then earned her 10
th strikeout of the game after catching the final batter slacking to solidify A&M-Corpus Christi's tournament win.
It was the first time these teams faced each other in the tournament, with the Islanders taking a 1-0 lead over the Cardinals. A&M-Corpus Christi is now 4-2 all-time against the No. 4 seed in the SLC Tournament.
The Islanders will now continue their tournament berth through the winner's bracket, set to face host and top-seeded McNeese Wednesday at 11 a.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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islanderssball).
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