STEPHENVILLE, Texas — The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team carried a three-run lead into the sixth inning before a late surge turned the tide in a 6-4 setback to Tarleton State on Sunday on the final day of the Texan Classic.
A&M-Corpus Christi (3-12) controlled the tempo through five innings and built a three-run cushion to force Tarleton State to play from behind. However, the Texans capitalized on a momentum shift in the bottom of the sixth to shift the final result.
Erynne Castillo sparked the Islanders offensively, going 1-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, while
Karisa Lopez added a 2-for-4 performance at the plate.
Jolie Elizalde chipped in a run-scoring effort and aggressive baserunning helped manufacture key runs as A&M-Corpus Christi built a 4-1 advantage through five and a half innings.
The Islanders struck first in the second. Lopez reached on a single and advanced into scoring position before Stewart lifted a sacrifice fly to right, plating the game's opening run. In the third, Castillo roped a triple down the left-field line and later dashed home on a wild pitch to double the lead to 2-0.
A&M-Corpus Christi continued to apply pressure in the fourth. After Elizalde singled and both Stewart and
Jada Zepeda worked walks, the Islanders executed a double steal that allowed Elizalde to swipe home, stretching the margin to 3-0.
Tarleton State answered in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI walk, but the Islanders responded in the sixth.
Eva Gallegos drew a pinch-hit walk and later scored on Castillo's groundout to push the lead back to three at 4-1.
The Texans capitalized in the bottom half of the sixth, stringing together six hits and taking advantage of an error to score five runs and flip the score to 6-4. A&M-Corpus Christi went quietly in the seventh, as Tarleton State's bullpen closed the door.
Lopez led the Islanders with two hits, while Castillo drove in a run and scored once. Elizalde finished 1-for-2 with a run scored and a sacrifice bunt. Stewart added an RBI and two walks.
In the circle,
Kendra Winfrey tossed 3 1/3 innings with three strikeouts.
Josie Whitehead worked two innings in relief, and
Holly Ayala was tagged with the loss after the Texans' sixth-inning rally.
Despite the late swing, the Islanders showcased grit with six hits, six walks and aggressive baserunning that kept pressure on throughout, narrowly falling after leading most of the afternoon.
On Deck:
Thursday, Feb. 26 at Texas State
Friday, Feb. 27-Sunday, March 1 at Texas Tech's Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic
#ShakasUp
