LAKE CHARLES, La. – Similar to the first two games of the midweek series, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team again jumped out to an early lead against McNeese before the home team let loose late to take game three 9-4 Wednesday at Joe Miller Field.
It was the third game in a row that the Islanders (9-29, 3-15 SLC) took an early lead over McNeese (28-17, 14-4 SLC), but similarly ended with the hosts gaining momentum in later innings. In a more leveled competition, the Islanders matched the Cowgirls in hits with 10 apiece but couldn't equally convert on the opportunities to fall 9-4.
It is A&M-Corpus Christi's first loss this year when recording 10+ hits in a game.
Back-to-back singles from the one and two hitters
Paolina Baez and
CJ Castilla placed a pair on early in the top of the first before
Mimi Thornton knocked the double to send both home for the two-RBI.
The 2-0 lead wasn't held for long as McNeese also sent runners home in the opening inning but twice as many for the 4-2 reversal. The Islanders shaved one run off the deficit after
Madison Espinoza homered in the third, her first of the season.
The Cowgirls would once again push ahead with a multi-run cushion, scoring two in the fourth and another in the fifth. The sixth opened with the Islanders once again seeing two base hits with
Monee Montilla and
Isabella Hune reaching quickly. Baez then knocked her second hit of the day, this time driving in a run as Montilla scored for a 7-4 game.
However, two insurance runs were tallied on the board by McNeese in that bottom frame to close out the game.
Espinoza led the Islanders' offense with a 3-for-4 plate performance. All of her hits were extra bases with her home run as well as two doubles. It is her first 3+ hit game of the year.
Baez also came away with the multi-hit game, her third of the season. Her RBI today took her season-leading to 21 as the only Islander with over 20 RBIs.
On deck:
The Islanders will return home this weekend to host Nicholls to conclude a nine-game stretch of nine games. They will take on the Colonels in a doubleheader Friday starting at 12 p.m. with game three set for Saturday also with a noon first pitch.
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