STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team showed flashes of resilience at the plate and in the circle but dropped a pair of games Saturday, falling to Army, 8-0, and Pitt, 8-3, on day two of the Texan Classic.
The Islanders (3-11) were led offensively by
Zoey Stewart, who notched a double, RBI and a walk, and
Jada Zepeda, who added an RBI single in the afternoon contest.
Erynne Castillo reached base twice with a hit and a walk, while
Brooke Jones chipped in a single and scored a run.
In the circle,
Holly Ayala provided stability in both games, tossing seven combined innings and limiting damage in extended relief appearances.
Game 1 – Army 8, A&M-Corpus Christi 0
Army capitalized on an early first-inning surge, but the Islanders settled in defensively and received steady relief work from Ayala to keep the game within reach.
After Army scored four in the opening frame, A&M-Corpus Christi looked to answer when
Mimi Thornton was hit by a pitch in the first, but a pair of lineouts halted the threat.
Ayala entered in the third and limited further damage, working three innings while allowing just one unearned run and inducing ground-ball contact to steady the defense but Army came away with the 8-0 score.
Game 2 – Pitt 8, A&M-Corpus Christi 3
The Islanders responded in the afternoon matchup with timely hitting and a spark in the third inning, cutting into a six-run deficit with a three-run rally which ultimately came up short of the final.
Trailing 6-0, Jones started the rally with a single before
Zoey Stewart roped a double and advanced to third, driving in the Islanders' first run. Moments later, Zepeda lined an RBI single to score Stewart, and
Karisa Lopez drew a bases-loaded walk to bring the Islanders within 6-3.
A&M-Corpus Christi continued to put runners aboard, drawing four walks in the game. Stewart finished 1-for-3 with a double, RBI and a walk, while Zepeda added an RBI single.
Erynne Castillo chipped in a hit and a walk as the Islanders produced four hits against Pitt pitching.
In the circle,
Mackenzie Durr worked two innings to open the game, and Ayala returned in relief to log four innings and keep the Islanders within striking distance down the stretch.
The Islanders continued to compete through the final inning but were unable to mount another rally.
On Deck:
Sunday, Feb. 22
12 p.m. – A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Tarleton State
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