CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team couldn't find a way out of their slump Friday, dropping the doubleheader to Nicholls in 4-1 and 6-1 game decisions at Chapman Field.
The Islanders (9-31, 3-17 SLC) have continued to struggle offensively while also conceding multiple late runs from the opposing squad, with today telling a similar story against Nicholls (24-20, 14-6 SLC).
Knocking just three hits in each game, the Islanders couldn't combat the Colonels who opened the day with eight hits before following it with 12 in game two including four in the seventh inning alone. It allowed Nicholls to create a cushion late for the doubleheader win.
Game one saw a shutdown in the first three innings from both sides as neither pitcher saw more than four batters in each frame. It wasn't until the fourth when a team broke through and unfortunately for the home squad, it was Nicholls that got on the board after plating two for the lead.
The Colonels scored another in the fifth and although the Islanders responded in the bottom frame with a pair of base hits, they still couldn't counter with a run until the bottom of the sixth when an error put
Paolina Baez on base before she ultimately rounded the bases to find home plate for a 3-1 game.
Another run by the visitors in the seventh secured the win for them, as the three-run hole was too big for the Islanders to climb out of in the bottom of the frame.
Game two showed signs of a pitcher's duel as Nicholls led just 1-0 through the completion of five innings. That was, until, the Colonels were able to get a jump in the sixth and seventh innings to score five within their final six outs.
The Islanders were also able to get one past the Nicholls pitcher in the sixth after
Ripley Welker barreled her first triple of the year to the right center gap.
Mimi Thornton had her ball look it would drop until the Colonels' centerfielder chased it down, but it was still put deep enough to score Welker on the sacrifice fly.
Monee Montilla came away with a hit in both contests and is on a three-game hitting streak now. She is now at 10 hits in conference play, the third Islander to reach that mark this year.
On deck:
The Islanders can still look to salvage the series, with game three against the Colonels getting underway tomorrow at 12 p.m. back at Chapman Field.
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