ARLINGTON, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team followed a familiar script Saturday at the 5
th Boerner Invitational on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington: keep close, keep composed, keep fighting and keep
Primrose Aholelei on the mound.
It's been a successful script so far this season, and it paid off again as the Islanders beat UTSA 4-2 in their fifth and final game of the invitational and fifth game in three days.
"It was a nice combination of the short game, swinging the bat well and a small dose of Aholelei," A&M-Corpus Christi coach
Kathleen Rodriguez said. "That was the key to today's win."
Aholelei went seven strong, allowing two runs (one earned) on only two hits with nine strikeouts. The nation's leading strikeout artist added 23 to her total over the weekend, giving her 94 in 67.1 innings this season.
She was backed by
Kimane Rogron and
Crystal Davila, each of whom had two hits and combined for four of the Islanders' five total hits on the day.
"Today's focus was to come in with an attack attitude, to have my teams back and go all out for my pitcher because she was throwing such a great game," said Davila, who went 0-for-2 in a pinch-hitting role in a 3-1 loss to UTSA the day before. "My mood after the first UTSA was a bit of frustration because I know we are the better team. Winning today's game, I feel great that we can come together as a team and battle and fight our way to a win."
The Islanders were the designated home team, giving the Roadrunners (6-13) a chance to do something that the Islanders normally do: score first. UTSA used a hit, a walk and a couple of sacrifices to jump out to an early 1-0 lead after half an inning against A&M-Corpus Christi ace Aholelei.
Yet the Islanders (12-6), as they usually do, immediately answered back.
Kimane Rogron reached on a bunt single, went to second when
Taniece Tyson drew a walk, then came all the way around when
Paolina Baez was safe on a two-base throwing error.
Aholelei and UTSA's Kenzi Schultz matched zeros for the next three innings. But in the fifth, a leadoff double followed by a throwing error allowed an unearned to score, giving the Roadrunners a 2-1 lead.
But it didn't last long.
The Islanders rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, as
Alina Jasso and Rogron reached with one out.
Monee Montilla then continued her torrid weekend, singling through the right side to drive in Jasso and tie the game 1-1.
And the Islanders weren't done.
Natalie Garcia pinch-ran for Montilla and stole scored, then Baez walked to load the bases. That brought up Davila, who singled up the middle to drive in Rogron and Garcia and give the Islanders a 4-2 lead.
"It was such an amazing feeling seeing the ball hit up the middle," Davila said. "When I was up to bat, I told myself I need to score my teammates, just hit something hard on the ground. It was a great feeling seeing my teammates happy and excited."
Davila, who went 2-for-3, now has two multi-hit games this season in only 16 at-bats after fighting back from a severely sprained ankle.
"Crystal was huge," Rodriguez said. "She's just had to get the right number of repetitions for her to really feel comfortable in the box. She played great defense and swung the bat well. It is so good to have her back."
Aholelei did the rest.
Suddenly pitching with a two-run lead, Aholelei hit the first batter of the inning, but then induced a fly out and two more strikeouts to slam the door. It was her seventh win of the season, as well as her seventh complete game.
"I'm extremely proud of their effort this far," Rodriguez said as her team completed the non-conference portion of the schedule. "Our young ones have gained some key experience, our older athletes have led beautifully and they all love one another. I can't ask for much more than that."
TAMUCC (12-6, 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, W (4-2)
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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