CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team looked to its pitching staff today before being backed up by a strong offensive outing in game two to split the doubleheader with HCU Friday at Chapman Field.
Both the Islanders (8-20, 2-6 SLC) and the Huskies (11-16, 5-3 SLC) saw a pitcher emerge with a complete game shutout today as the latter team took the first game 3-0 before the home squad saw
Malia Williams go the distance in game two for a 7-0 victory, setting up the rubber match tomorrow.
Kendra Winfrey also came out throwing some heat in the first, coming in relief where she threw 4.1 shutout innings after HCU managed to sneak in three runs in the first off the slow ball game. Those runs were the only ones on the board for the first game, as the Islanders couldn't overcome a 13-2 hitting disadvantage.
The second game turned right for the Islanders, however, as they were able to overpower HCU from the plate beginning early by additionally taking advantage of costly errors from the visiting outfield.
Karisa Lopez began the second inning with the lead off base hit down the left field line before stealing second and advancing to third on an errant throw. An overthrown toss from the HCU pitcher had
CJ Castilla safely reach base before finding her way to second base while Lopez found home for a 1-0 lead.
Natalie Garcia knocked a single and again advanced on the base paths from a right field throwing error and then
Paolina Baez stepped up and sent Garcia and Castilla home on the double to right center.
Up 3-0, Baez would eventually also make her way home for the Islanders' fourth run of the inning off HCU's fourth error.
Williams pitched a three-up, three-down in the third as the game headed to the bottom of the inning where the Islanders tacked on more.
Zoey Stewart led off with the single up the middle before heading to second on the passed ball. Castilla grounded out but gave Stewart the opportunity to get within 60 feet of the plate. Garcia then put the ball in play on a grounder and reached first after HCU chose to throw home, but Stewart was ruled safe after official replay showed she beat the tag to give the Islanders a 5-0 lead.
Baez reached on a fielder's choice next but got a stolen base to get in scoring position. The single through the right side by
Mimi Thornton was then enough to score Baez before
Crystal Davila barreled her first triple of the year after getting a friendly deep roll to the right center gap to also score Thornton as the 7-0 score would cap the scoring.
The next two innings saw Williams retire six straight and despite allowing two hits in the seventh, she escaped without allowing HCU to get on the board.
Williams ended the day punching out five, her most in conference play as an Islander. She only gave up four hits including just two through the first six innings as she earned the complete game shutout for her fourth win of the year.
On deck:
The rubber match will have a 12 p.m. first pitch tomorrow back at Chapman Field. The Islanders will be going for their first conference series win of the season.
#ShakasUp
