NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team came out on top of the rubber match at Northwestern State 6-1 to secure a winning final weekend as the season drew to a close Saturday at Lady Demon Diamond.
Despite the 2-1 series win, the Islanders (12-36, 6-21 SLC) needed some help in order to clinch a berth into the Southland Conference Tournament that included an East Texas A&M loss today. However, the Lions were able to win their final regular season game to finish one game ahead of the Islanders in the final league standings.
Paolina Baez led off the game with the base hit to center and made her way around the base path to score on
Monee Montilla's fielder's choice for another early lead.
The Islanders would strike again with a pair of two-run innings in the third and fourth. Montilla would drive in another run with the double to left to score
Mimi Thornton who had drawn the walk in the previous at-bat. Montilla would then score after
Ripley Welker sent hers to right field.
The fourth inning had
Zoey Stewart making due with several pitcher-catcher miscues, as she reached on a hit by pitch before advancing on a passed ball and eventually scoring on a wild pitch.
Erynne Castillo, who singled to left, then scored next after
Jolie Elizalde flied out for the sacrifice RBI.
An insurance run was tacked on in the fifth as Welker singled again to right field. She stole second to put herself into scoring position and back-to-back sacrifice bunts by
Karisa Lopez and Stewart advanced Welker home for the 6-0 lead.
Malia Williams tossed a no-hitter through five innings before the Lady Demons were finally able to get one past her in the sixth which inevitably led to their first run of the game, unearned after a fielding error. Back-to-back strikeouts from Williams stranded Northwestern State will just the one run.
It was then a three-up, three-down bottom of the seventh as Williams exited with the complete game with the 0.00 ERA on the day. It marks her fifth win of the season and an equal number of complete games.
Baez ends her collegiate career after leading the team her senior year in hits (33), runs (20), and RBIs (23). Her and fellow four-year senior Montilla ended tied for most doubles this year with eight apiece.
Montilla led the Islanders at the plate during the conference schedule with a .279 batting average.
It marks A&M-Corpus Christi's second winning conference series this season after they also took a rubber match from HCU back in March.
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