ARLINGTON, Texas – It may have taken a little longer than expected, but the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team nevertheless flexed a little muscle Friday at the 5
th Boerner Invitational on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington.
Behind 5.2 innings of standout work on the mound by
Siarah Galvan and the smoking hot bat of
Monee Montilla, the Islanders were able to snap a three-game losing skid with a 6-2 win over Grambling in the second game of the day and fourth in two days. The Islanders lost to UTSA in the day's first game 3-1.
"We came into this game with something to prove, not only to ourselves, but to everyone that we are a good hitting team," said Montilla, who missed both games Thursday because of the flu and only had one pinch-hit at-bat in the first game Friday. "We just kept trusting our work and our approach and we got the job done. It was a team effort tonight, but it was an even bigger team win."
In a story that seems to repeat game after game, the Islanders (11-6) once again jumped out to an early lead against Grambling (7-7).
Montilla singled home
Taniece Tyson with two outs for a 1-0 lead in the first inning, then an inning later
Alina Jasso singled to center with the bases loaded to drive in
Crystal Davila and
Paolina Baez for a 3-0 lead.
That was more than enough for Galvan, but her teammates decided to keep scoring anyway.
Sidney Campion added a run in the third when she knocked in Montilla with a sacrifice fly.
Kimane Rogron then laid down a beauty of a bunt in the fourth to drive in
Isabella Hune, giving the Islanders a 5-0 lead.
"Tonight, they did a great job of trusting the process, one another and their daily work," A&M-Corpus Christi coach
Kathleen Rodriguez said. "They had great discipline on both sides of the ball, and we kept our energy high throughout the game, forcing the momentum to stay in our dugout."
When a little of that momentum dared to sneak away, the Islanders snatched it right back.
The Tigers got a run in the fifth inning on a double, a steal of third and wild pitch, but that just seemed to offend the Islanders. Montilla immediately stepped to the plate and crushed a home run to right to get that run back, making it 6-1.
Montilla's second home run of the season was a majestic blast, sailing through the night air and settling well over the right-field fence. If Michael Jordan can have a flu game,
Monee Montilla can have one too.
"We actually had to take her to urgent care yesterday morning to get her hooked up to an IV due to severe dehydration," Rodriguez said. "She is feeling much better today."
Uh, yeah.
The junior first baseman went 3-for-3 with a double, home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. She also singled and walked as a pinch hitter in the first game.
"Coming into the game, it was important that we came together as a team to put up runs," Montilla said. "I knew what kind of hitting team we have, and I knew that eventually, if you hit the ball on the screws enough, they're gonna fall."
Montilla's resurgence helped Galvan win for the first time this season. The junior from Rockport gave up just two runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts. She gave way to
Ariella Saenz, who picked her first save of the season with 1.1 innings of no-hit relief.
It was the epitome of a bounce back game for the Islanders, as they were coming off a three-game skid that featured two run-rule losses and defeat earlier in the day that featured three unearned runs in one inning in a 3-1 loss to UTSA.
"Girls were getting frustrated for sure, but allowing ourselves to come back to the foundation of who we are to our core was important," Rodriguez said.
Part of that core seems to be scoring early. And true to form, the Islanders struck first in their first game of the day against UTSA, as Campion led off the second inning with a double and eventually came around to score on a fielder's choice by
Felixia Hinojosa.
UTSA answered back in the bottom of the second thanks to a walk, an error and a three-run home run. The three unearned runs gave the Roadrunners (5-12) a 3-1 lead, which would remain unchanged.
Primrose Aholelei (6-4) suffered the tough-luck defeat, allowing just three hits and the three unearned runs. She also struck out nine, giving the nation's strikeout leader 85 on the season.
The Islanders had three hits of their own, with Campion and Tyson each collecting a double and pinch-hitter Montilla adding a single.
"We talk about our three team non-negotiables all the time: energy, trust and discipline," Rodriguez said. "Dominique (Salinas, sport psychology consultant) has worked with them for a while on this and what these words mean to each of them, as well as what it will do for us as a team if we make this our team focus."
The Islanders play once more in Arlington, as they get to face UTSA again at 2 p.m. Saturday.
TAMUCC (11-6, 0-0 SLC)
Feb. 29-March 2 – at 5th Boerner Invitational (Arlington, Texas)
Feb. 29 – vs. UT-Arlington, L (13-5, 5 inn.) | vs. UT-Arlington, L (10-0, 5 inn.)
March 1 – vs. UTSA, L (3-1) | vs. Grambling, W (6-2)
March 2 – vs. UTSA (4-12), 2 p.m.
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.
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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