LAFAYETTE, La. — The Texas A&M–Corpus Christi softball team opened a five-game tournament Friday at Lamson Park with a challenging doubleheader against No. 21 Ole Miss and Louisiana, falling 8–0 and 5–1 in the first two contests.
Despite the results, the Islanders received steady contributions across both games.
Mimi Thornton led the offense, going 2-for-5 on the day.
Karisa Lopez added a hit and scored the Islanders' lone run against Louisiana, while
Zoey Stewart reached base five times across the two games and stole four bases.
Jada Zepeda contributed a hit and drew two walks.
In the circle,
Kendra Winfrey,
Holly Ayala,
Josie Whitehead, and
Mackenzie Durr combined to navigate 13 innings against two potent offenses, with Durr tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief against Louisiana.
Game 1: No. 21 Ole Miss 8, Texas A&M–Corpus Christi 0
The Islanders threatened early but could not capitalize as No. 21 Ole Miss used a four-run first inning to seize control.
A&M–Corpus Christi opened the game aggressively, however, as Stewart walked to begin the contest and stole second, then moved into scoring position as Zepeda drew a walk. With two aboard and no outs, Ole Miss escaped when a fielder's choice erased the lead runner and a line-drive double play ended the inning.
Ole Miss responded with multiple RBI singles in the bottom half, giving the nationally ranked Rebels a 4-0 lead.
Winfrey settled in over the next two frames, working around traffic in the second and stranding runners in the third, but Ole Miss extended its lead to 5–0 on an RBI fielder's choice in the third.
Ayala entered in relief and kept the Islanders within reach, but unearned runs in the fifth and sixth innings pushed the margin to eight.
Game 2: Louisiana 5, Texas A&M–Corpus Christi 1
In the afternoon matchup, the Islanders played Louisiana even through four innings before one swing shifted momentum.
Whitehead matched Louisiana pitch for pitch early. Thornton recorded the Islanders' first hit with a single in the second inning, and Lopez advanced her with a sacrifice bunt. In the third, Louisiana broke through when Kennedy Marceaux doubled down the left-field line to plate the game's first run.
The Islanders continued to battle. Thornton added her second hit in the fourth, and Stewart worked multiple deep counts to reach base, but Louisiana stranded the Islanders in each of the first four innings.
The turning point came in the fifth. Louisiana loaded the bases and one swing brought them all in to stretch the lead to 5–0.
A&M–Corpus Christi tried answering in the seventh. Lopez singled through the right side, and back-to-back walks loaded the bases. Stewart lifted a sacrifice fly to left, bringing Lopez home for the Islanders' lone run before the final outs ended the night.
On deck:
Saturday, Feb. 14
11:00 a.m. – Prairie View vs. A&M-Corpus Christi
Live Stats
Sunday, Feb. 15
10:30 a.m. –A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Prairie View
Live Stats
1:00 p.m. –A&M-Corpus Christi at Louisiana
Live Stats
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