BEAUMONT, Texas – It was a tale of two very different yet very similar games Friday at the LU Softball Complex, as the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team split a doubleheader with Lamar, taking the opener 4-2 before dropping the nightcap 5-1.
The Islanders (20-15 overall, 8-9 Southland Conference) took advantage of three Lamar errors in Game 1 – leading to two unearned runs – and
Primrose Aholelei allowed just four hits and struck out 12 to help the Islanders break a three-game losing streak and pull within a game of the Cardinals for fifth place in the conference.
Lamar (24-17, 10-7) returned the favor in Game 2, however, as the Islanders committed three errors – leading to three unearned runs – and Karyana Mitchell allowed just five hits as the Cardinals reestablished their two-game cushion over the Islanders.
"We are letting too many pitches go by," TAMU-CC coach
Kathleen Rodriguez said, trying to explain an offense that has scored fewer than five runs in seven straight games and only once in the last 10. "We need to trust our hands and our daily work. We just need to be more aggressive."
The Islanders took a while to get going in Game 1, as Aholelei kept TAMU-CC alive by allowing just two runs on four hits through the first five innings. But trailing 2-1 with just two hits on the board through five innings, the Islanders needed someone to provide a spark. Anyone.
A host of players answered the call.
Alina Jasso led off with a single to left for her second hit of the day, followed quickly by
Paolina Baez, who reached on an error. That brought TAMU-CC's leading hitter to the plate, and
Taniece Tyson did what leading hitters do. Tyson – who was relegated to pinch-hitting duties last game because of an illness – took a pitch low and in the zone and laced it to the fence in left-center for a double. Jasso and Baez raced around to score, giving the Islanders a 3-2 lead.
"It's definitely good to have TT back," Rodriguez said. "She isn't at 100 percent, but she's getting better."
Brooke Jones pinch ran for Tyson, and she scampered around with another run after
Kimane Rogron reached on another error. By the time the dust had cleared, the Islanders had a 4-2 lead after scoring three runs on three hits and three errors.
Aholelei handled the rest, though the Cardinals made it interesting.
In the sixth inning, Aholelei walked the leadoff hitter for the third time in the game, but she struck out the next three batters. She then allowed the first two batters in the seventh inning to reach when she bobbled a comebacker for an error and hit the No. 2 hitter. After a groundout and a strike out, she hit another batter to load the bases.
Didn't matter. On three straight pitches, Aholelei got her 12th strikeout of the game and the Islanders got a 4-2 victory.
Aholelei tossed 134 pitches to improve to 14-7 and collect her 16th complete game of the season. She allowed two runs on just four hits and four walks.
The top of the order for the Islanders – Jasso, Baez and Tyson – each collected a pair of hits, drove in three runs and scored two runs.
Crystal Davila added a single as part of the Islanders' seven-hit attack. Rogron drove in a run, and
Precious Aholelei scored a run.
TAMU-CC scored all four runs off Lamar ace Emma Wardlaw, though just two were earned thanks to the three Lamar errors. The tables turned in Game 2.
The Cardinals won 4-0 with three unearned runs thanks to three TAMU-CC errors. The Islanders had just two hits through five innings and finished with just three overall. TAMU-CC twice got a runner to third – in the second and sixth innings – but both runners were left stranded.
Until the seventh.
Not showing any quit, the Islanders got a pinch-hit single from
Monee Montilla to start the inning, then one later,
Rhea-Ann Avalos blasted a double over the right fielder's head to score Montilla. But a pair of groundouts ended the threat, giving the Cardinals just their third win over the Islanders in their past 10 meetings.
"The second game was a combination of Mitchell throwing really well and us not playing fundamental/routine softball," Rodriguez said. "Errors will come back to get you every time."
Ariella Saenz pitched a solid six innings, allowing just two earned runs, striking out five and walking no one in her first complete game of the season and the second of her career.
"I believe both Prim and Ari did a good job today," Rodriguez said. "Ari pitched well enough to give us that second win. We let her down with our defense."
The two teams will play the rubber match at noon today at the LU Softball Complex in Beaumont.
TAMUCC (20-15, 8-9 SLC)
Friday, April 12 – at Lamar, W (4-2)
Friday, April 12 – at Lamar, L (5-1)
Saturday, April 13 – at Lamar (24-17, 10-7), noon, LU Softball Complex, Beaumont
On Deck: Following the series with Lamar, the Islanders will get the conference bye week and won't play again until April 26.
Home again: The Islanders will return home on Friday, April 26 to begin a three-game conference series with defending SLC champion McNeese. The teams will play a doubleheader beginning at noon on Friday, April 26, then play a single game beginning at noon on Saturday, April 27.
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