CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – After going quiet through their first five innings, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team finally had their bats come alive to string together the three runs they needed to walk off UIW 3-2 in the series finale at Chapman Field.
Karisa Lopez holds the honor of calling game, as she saw the payoff pitch in the bottom of the seventh deep to the gap in right center as
Monee Montilla rounded third and made her way home for the 3-2 walk-off victory.
It came after the Islanders' (7-16, 1-2 SLC) offense had been nearly shutdown through the first five innings, managing just one base on balls off the UIW (11-10, 2-1 SLC) starter. The Cardinals had plated their two runs early before
Kendra Winfrey buckled down in the circle and threw the next four frames in shutout fashion for her third win on the year.
The first run of the day came from the visiting Cardinals, coming off a fielding error by the Islanders to make it unearned. They managed to earn one in the third inning, however, as a pair of singles put the Islanders down 2-0 early.
Finally denying the no-hitter,
Zoey Stewart slid into first for the infield single in the bottom of the sixth. UIW relieved their starter, and the Islanders took advantage. Stewart was out on a fielder's choice, but
Natalie Garcia and
Mimi Thornton occupied the first two bases before
Crystal Davila hit the two-out single to center to score Garcia.
Madisen Edwards pinch ran for Thornton and did her job as
Paolina Baez drove her in after doubling one fair out of the reach of the left fielder to knot the game at 2-2.
A&M-Corpus Christi's defense locked in, as Lopez and Thornton both gloved two hard line drives before also completing a groundout to set up a walk-off opportunity in the bottom of the seventh.
They did just that, as Montilla drew the lead-off walk before advancing on Stewart's sacrifice bunt. With two outs and battling to a full count, Lopez doubled to right center and the game was called as Montilla stepped home for the victory.
Winfrey conceded just the one earned run on the day, throwing seven innings and striking out two. It finally earned the Islanders their first win over UIW in their last seven meetings.
On deck:
The Islanders will take this into continued conference play next weekend when they hit the road to take on East Texas A&M in their first away league series next weekend in Commerce.
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