CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas –The Texas A&M–Corpus Christi softball team put together a complete day at Chapman Field on Friday, sweeping a doubleheader from East Texas A&M, 4-0 and 7-1, in the Southland Conference home opener to secure the series.
The Islanders totaled 11 runs on 20 hits while allowing just six hits across the two games, securing their first conference series victory under first-year head coach Mark Montgomery with game three still to be played Saturday.
They posted the shutout in game one before nearly doing the same in game two minus a stray run off an error in game two. Both performances were backed by outstanding work in the circle, with
Kendra Winfrey and
Josie Whitehead each throwing complete games for a win apiece.
Game 1 – A&M-Corpus Christi 4, East Texas A&M 0
In the opener, A&M–Corpus Christi struck first in the bottom of the first inning.
Zoey Stewart singled to start the game, stole second and moved into scoring position before
Jada Zepeda reached safely. With two outs,
Skylar Heger lined a single down the left-field line to bring home Zepeda and give the Islanders a 1-0 lead.
The Islanders added to their advantage in the third when Stewart singled again and Zepeda was hit by a pitch to put two runners on. After a fly ball moved both runners up, Heger lifted a sacrifice fly to center to plate Stewart, and
Kayla Santiago followed with an RBI single through the right side to score Zepeda and extend the lead to 3-0.
A&M-Corpus Christi tacked on an insurance run in the sixth inning when Santiago singled to start the frame and
Eva Gallegos followed with a base hit of her own. With runners on,
Erynne Castillo later singled to load the bases before
Taylor Reyes delivered a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Santiago to score and push the advantage to 4-0.
In the circle, Winfrey was dominant for the Islanders. The right-hander fired a complete-game two-hit shutout, striking out seven while issuing just one walk. She faced only 24 batters and did not allow an East Texas A&M runner past second base. Offensively, the Islanders totaled 10 hits in the opener. Stewart and Zepeda each recorded two hits at the top of the lineup, while Santiago went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored and Gallegos also finished with two hits. Heger contributed a hit and drove in two runs to lead the Islanders' run production.
Game 2 – A&M-Corpus Christi 7, East Texas A&M 1
A&M–Corpus Christi carried the momentum into the nightcap and once again jumped out to an early lead. In the bottom of the first, Stewart reached on a walk and Zepeda followed with a single up the middle before
Mimi Thornton reached on a fielder's choice to move runners into scoring position. Santiago then delivered an RBI single to left field to score Stewart, and
Karisa Lopez added another RBI single to right to plate Thornton for a 2-0 lead.
The Islanders broke the game open in the third inning. Santiago singled to begin the rally and Gallegos drew a walk before Lopez reached on a bunt that resulted in a defensive error, loading the bases. Reyes then delivered the biggest swing of the game, ripping a double that cleared the bases and extended the Islanders' lead to 5-0.
A&M-Corpus Christi added two more runs in the fifth inning. Reyes singled and Stewart followed with a base hit before Heger drove a double into the right-center gap, scoring both runners and pushing the lead to 7-0. East Texas A&M broke up the shutout in the seventh on an unearned run, but the Islanders closed out the 7-1 victory.
Whitehead delivered another strong pitching performance in game two, throwing a complete game while allowing just five hits and one unearned run without issuing a walk. The Islanders again recorded 10 hits in the contest, highlighted by Reyes' 2-for-3 effort with a double and three RBI, while Heger went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Santiago finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, Lopez added two hits and an RBI, and Stewart scored twice while reaching base three times.
Across the doubleheader, the Islanders received contributions throughout the lineup. Santiago finished 4-for-7 with two RBI and a run scored, while Stewart went 3-for-6 with three runs scored, two walks and a stolen base. Heger batted 3-for-5 with a double and four RBI, Gallegos went 3-for-4, and Zepeda collected three hits and scored twice. Reyes drove in four runs across the two games, including the pivotal three-run double in the nightcap.
A&M–Corpus Christi will look to complete the series sweep when the Islanders host East Texas A&M in the final game of the three-game Southland Conference set Saturday at Chapman Field.
On deck:
Saturday, March 14
12 p.m. – East Texas A&M at A&M-Corpus Christi (Game 3)
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