CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – It only seemed natural that the final game of the Frost Classic for the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team Sunday ended with some drama. It would have been a little strange had it been any different.
Playing their fifth game in three days against their fifth different opponent, the Islanders withstood a seventh-inning rally – thanks to their 13
th error of the weekend – to hold off Georgetown 5-4 on the campus of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.
"We had a really good weekend," A&M-Corpus Christi coach
Kathleen Rodriguez said after her team improved to 10-3. "We were one inning (that got away from us) away from having a perfect weekend, but to say that I am proud is an understatement. They have created a space where they fight back. The will and competitiveness that is inside this team comes from deep inside their chest. They love each other and want one another to succeed in all they do."
The Islanders followed a familiar script: whenever they're challenged, they respond.
In the top of the third inning, the Hoyas (7-8) touched A&M-Corpus Christi ace
Primrose Aholelei for two runs thanks to a walk and a two-run home run. It was the first home run Aholelei has allowed this year and just the sixth extra-base hit she's allowed.
No matter. As per their M.O., the perceived slight only seemed to serve as a wake-up call.
Sidney Campion immediately got things started with a single in the bottom of the third inning, then went to third when Alisa Jasso reached on a two-base error. That put two runners on for the smoking hot
Kimane Rogron, who continued her torrid weekend with a two-run single to tie the game.
"To be honest, I just kept doing what I was doing yesterday, just trying to score my teammates," Rogron said. "We really put in the work this weekend, and it showed on the scoreboard."
At that point, the senior from France had raised her average by 109 points to .359 in just over a day after going 5-for-6 in two games on Saturday. In the five games combined, Rogron hit .429, had an on-base percentage of .500, collected six hits, three singles, two doubles, one triple, five RBIs, two walks, a sacrifice and …
She stole second base after her RBI single and came around on the first of two doubles by second baseman
Paolina Baez.
Baez was moved up to the 5-hole for the game, and she rewarded that faith by going 2-for-3 with the two doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Baez entered the game with just one extra-base hit (a double) and six RBIs.
"Of course, there is added pressure, but I live for those situations," Baez said of being moved to a run-producing spot in the lineup. "It felt good to come through for my team and my pitcher, but they are always behind me with so much support. Although we could have done better on defense, I think it was a good learning opportunity as we roll into conference play soon."
The Islanders got what turned out to be some much-needed insurance in the fifth and sixth innings, first when
Taniece Tyson unloaded on her second home run of the weekend, then an inning later when Baez led off with a double and came around on
Crystal Davila's single up the middle.
It was part of a 2-for-3 day for Davila, who was getting her first start of the year at shortstop.
"Today, my focus was on staying sharp both at the plate and in the field," Davila said. "Getting those early hits definitely helped set the tone for me offensively, but I also made sure to prioritize my defensive game, especially given the recent challenges we've had in that area. Overall, it was about maintaining a balance and contributing to the team's success in all aspects of the game."
Ah, the "recent challenges" on defense. If there was one negative at all to the weekend, it was A&M-Corpus Christi's troubling defensive lapses.
After entering Friday with just six errors in eight games, the Islanders more than tripled that in five games. They had an error in every game during the weekend, including five in one game (a win), four in another (a loss, thanks to three in one inning), two in another and single errors in the other two. Of the 14 runs the Islanders allowed in the five games, only five of them were earned.
One of those single-error games came against Georgetown, when the Hoyas scored two unearned runs in the seventh inning with two outs to make it interesting. But, as she has been prone to do, Aholelei slammed the door, recording her ninth strikeout to end the game.
Aholelei's sixth win of the season moves her into fourth place on the school's all-time list with 25, and her 257 career strikeouts now place her alone in third place on the all-time list.
"Prim was the ultimate competitor as usual," Rodriguez said. "Kiki (Rogron) had a great weekend, and we are so glad to have Crystal back in the lineup and healthy. Paoli made a couple adjustments during warm-ups that paid off very well today, and TT (Tyson) made a couple adjustments before her home run that were huge as well.
"I love coaching this team!"
The Islanders return home before embarking on another frantic road trip featuring five games in three days at the Boerner Invitational in Arlington. A&M-Corpus Christi will play two games Thursday and Friday and a single game Saturday to end the non-conference portion of the schedule.
TAMUCC (10-3, 0-0 SLC)
Feb. 23-25 – at Frost Classic (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Feb. 23 – vs. Valparaiso W 2-1 | vs. UT-Chattanooga L 4-2
Feb. 24 – vs. Ohio W 5-3 | vs. UT-Martin W 7-2
Feb. 25 – vs. Georgetown W 5-4
Up Next: The Islanders will face another grueling test with five more games in three days at the 5
th Boerner Invitational in Arlington. A&M-Corpus Christi will only face three teams this time, however, with a doubleheader against host UT-Arlington on Thursday, Feb. 29, followed by two games on Friday, March 1 against UTSA and Grambling. The Islanders play UTSA again on Saturday, March 2 before heading back home.
Next Home Game: The Islanders begin a three-game series against Texas A&M-Commerce to start Southland Conference play on Friday, March 8 at Chapman Field. The teams will play a doubleheader beginning at noon Friday followed by a single game beginning at noon Saturday, March 9.
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@IslandersSball) and Instagram (
islanderssball).
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