CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – It was a tale of two games, each with very different appearances, but each with very similar results.
The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team roared into Southland Conference play on the back of the brilliant
Primrose Aholelei, then switched tactics and rode the hot bat of the most unlikely candidate,
Paolina Baez. It all ended in a doubleheader sweep of Texas A&M-Commerce on Friday, 1-0 in the opener and 10-3 in Game 2 at Chapman Field.
"Prim was Prim," A&M-Corpus Christi coach
Kathleen Rodriguez said of Aholelei, who tossed her eighth complete game of the year to improve to 8-4. "She threw well and put us in position to win that first one. She is such a competitor. It's a tough thing to throw a shutout at this level. Pushing that one run across was a big deal. And the girls played strong defense behind her, which was a big deal as well."
That one run came courtesy of Aline Jasso in the fourth inning, when she lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score
Erin Villela, who was pinch-running for Felexia Hinojosa after Hinojosa singled with one out.
Luckily for the Islanders (14-6 overall, 2-0 in the SLC), that one run was all Aholelei needed.
The senior from Hawaii allowed just two hits and three walks while striking out six. Three times she stranded a runner at third, including with the bases loaded in the first inning. Her six strikeouts increased her season total to an even 100 – which also matched the number of pitches she threw – and her second shutout of the season lowered her ERA to 1.88.
"My performance could've been better," Aholelei said in her usual understated way. "I struggled to find the umpire's strike zone at first, but I am just grateful my defense had my back as I got my pitching together."
The Islanders had chances to establish some breathing room, including in the first inning when they loaded the bases with one out and chased A&M-Commerce starting pitcher Julia Sanchez. But the Lions (5-19, 0-2) brought in Anissa Arredondo, who was able to stem the tide and keep the Islanders scoreless until the fourth inning.
A&M-Corpus Christi had seven total hits, including two by
Taniece Tyson. First baseman
Monee Montilla was one base twice with a hit and a walk, while
Rhea-Ann Avalos got the start in right field and drew a pair of walks. Yet the Islanders left 10 runners stranded, and it was obvious something had to change.
"We talk about Einstein's Parable of Quantum Insanity often," Rodriguez said. "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. We got after them and let them know how important it is to make adjustments quickly and often, even during at-bats from pitch to pitch if needed to get their desired outcome. They did that, and our bats came around."
Einstein would have been proud because the Islanders certainly learned their lesson.
Jasso led off Game 2 with a single, and after a fielder's choice, a fly out and a walk, Baez stepped up with two on and two out. And then something happened not even Einstein could predict.
The junior from Fort Worth, she of the .207 lifetime average with 12 extra-base hits (11 of those being doubles) in 260 career at-bats, stepped up and tattooed a ball that carried to the deepest part of Chapman Field and settled just feet away from her exceptionally proud father watching from the berm in center field.
"It felt great," Baez said after going 2-for-4 in Game 2 with that titanic blast, four RBIs and a stolen base. "After the first game, we needed to make an adjustment and make their defense work and that's what we did. It was a great moment, and it felt awesome to celebrate at the plate with my team."
The entire team awaited Baez's historic lap around the bases. Not only was it her first career home run and the team's first SLC home run of the year, but it also helped her surpass her previous season high in extra-base hits with five (she has four doubles this year as well).
"It was just a matter of time for 'Paoli Barrels,' " Rodriguez said. "I've been waiting since I got here for that home run hug. She definitely picked the furthest point in the field to hit that one out. It was a rocket. She hit that one straight to her dad, which was pretty cool."
The Baez Blast seemed to light a fire under her teammates, who put up double digits in runs for just the second time this season and first time since the season opener (a 13-4 win against Arlington Baptist).
"Paoli's home run was amazing to see, especially on our field," Aholelei said. "I can say it definitely surprised us to see that home run, but it did fire us up to score more and get another win."
The Islanders got production throughout the order in Game 2, with Jasso collecting a pair of hits and an RBI, Tyson getting two more hits and an RBI,
Crystal Davila driving in a pair of runs and
Kimane Rogron scoring three times. A&M-Corpus Christi also stole four bases, with Rogron, Baez,
Natalie Garcia and
Karisa Lopez all swiping a bag.
The beneficiaries of all that base traffic was the sophomore duo of
Malia Williams an
Ariella Saenz.
Williams got the start and went 3.1 innings, allowing just one run on three hits with three strikeouts. Saenz took over in the fourth and finished it off, getting the win by allowing two runs on five hits with two strikeouts in 3.2 innings.
"I thought the combination of Malia and Ari was fabulous," Rodriguez said. "I was extremely proud of their effort that second game. It was nice to play a clean game on both sides of the ball."
With a series win already in hand, the Islanders will look to complete the series sweep at noon Saturday.
"No change of focus tomorrow at all; business as usual," Rodriguez said. "There is never any room to let your heels touch at this level. Commerce is a well-coached team of women who want to win. We must respect that."
TAMUCC (14-6, 2-0 SLC)
March 8 – vs. Texas A&M-Commerce, W (1-0)
March 8 – vs. Texas A&M-Commerce, W (10-3)
March 9 – vs. Texas A&M-Commerce (5-19), Noon, Chapman Field
Up Next: The Islanders will continue Southland Conference play with a three-game series in San Antonio against Incarnate Word. Unlike every other SLC series, the teams will play a single game first and a doubleheader the following day. The teams will play at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 15, then play two games beginning at noon Saturday, March 16.
Next Home Game: The Islanders begin a three-game SLC series against Northwestern State on Friday, March 22 at Chapman Field. The teams will play a doubleheader beginning at noon Friday followed by a single game beginning at noon Saturday, March 23.
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@IslandersSball) and Instagram (
islanderssball).
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