BEUAMONT, Texas – In a game that was as emotionally taxing as any game in recent memory, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team rode the back of their all-everything pitcher, clawed back to tie it in their last at-bat, then watched helplessly as a pitch that was
this close to being strike three was called ball four, leading to a 2-1 defeat against Lamar in the finale Saturday of their three-game series.
"I was proud of our fight at the end of the game," TAMU-CC coach
Kathleen Rodriguez said. "But we need to bring that energy, fight and want-to-win from the very first pitch until the last out is made."
The Islanders (20-16 overall, 8-10 Southland Conference) fell three games behind the Cardinals (25-17, 11-7) for fifth place in the SLC mainly because their offense took a six-inning slumber. Yet still, it almost didn't matter because the Islanders have
Primrose Aholelei and other teams don't.
"Prim threw another gem," was all Rodriguez had to say.
The TAMU-CC ace allowed just a single unearned run on four hits and one walk through the first six innings as the offense tried to find a groove. The Islanders had just one hit through the first six innings, a mammoth one-out double by
Monee Montilla in the second inning that bounced halfway up the wall in right field.
But other than a walk to
Sydney Hoyt in the third inning and Montilla reaching on an error in the fifth, that was the extent of the Islanders baserunners.
Until the seventh.
With just one hit and three baserunners to that point, the Islanders appeared resigned to their fate. But
Paolina Baez lit a spark with a leadoff single to center.
Kimane Rogron then smacked a one-out single to left, and Montilla followed with a walk to load the bases.
Lamar got the lead runner at home for the second out, and with the bases still loaded, the Cardinals appeared to get the win when Sindey Campion hit a sharp grounder to short. Campion was called out on the play, and as the Cardinals celebrated, Rodriguez asked for a video review. After an extended amount of time, the umpires returned and declared Campion safe and the game tied.
With the game now suddenly tied 1-1, Aholelei came back out in the bottom of the seventh with new life. However, Lamar got a single to left and a bunt single from the first two batters. Aholelei then started 3-0 on the next hitter, got it to a full count and then hit her to load the bases.
Again, Aholelei started 3-0 with the bases loaded and no outs, but again she fought back to a full count and induced a fly out to center field with no runners moving up. Then, for the third straight time, Aholelei started 3-0, got it 3-2, and on the sixth pitch of the at-bat, appeared to possibly catch the corner with strike three.
The call was ball four, however, allowing winning run to come home.
"I'm sitting here watching that game again, and that ball four with bases loaded is a tough call, especially where it crossed the plate," Rodriguez said. "The opposing team felt the same way about that pitch and how the game ended. It's a tough pill to swallow.
"But if you really dissect the game, it wasn't about those last three outs. We had opportunities to win that game earlier by putting the ball in play, by scoring runners, by being fundamental. We just didn't execute to our full potential."
It was the eighth straight game the Islanders scored four or fewer runs and the 10th time in the last 12.
Aholelei took the hard-luck loss, tossing her 17th complete game of the season. She gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks. She also struck out five, running her conference-leading total to 166.
The Islanders will have a while to mull over where the offense was gone as they will have the conference bye week next week. But it doesn't get any easier as the return April 26 to face defending champion McNeese, which currently sits first in the SLC.
"We need to come with an alter ego, a chip on our shoulder, play with something to prove and a reason to play," Rodriguez said. "Once we become that team, take on that identity, we will be tough to beat."
TAMUCC (20-16, 8-10 SLC)
Friday, April 12 – at Lamar, W (4-2)
Friday, April 12 – at Lamar, L (5-1)
Saturday, April 13 – at Lamar, L (2-1)
On Deck: 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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