CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team fell behind early and couldn't recover, dropping the opener of a three-game conference series to McNeese 8-4 at Chapman Field.
The Islanders (10-30, 4-12 SLC) answered quickly after McNeese (24-17, 8-8 SLC) struck in the first inning but were unable to keep pace with the Cowgirls adding insurance runs in the middle innings to pull away.
McNeese struck first in the top of the first inning, using a triple and a single to plate three runs for a 3-0 lead. The Islanders responded immediately in the bottom half.
Zoey Stewart worked a leadoff walk, and
Jada Zepeda reached on a bunt that forced an error, allowing Stewart to score and advancing all the way to third herself.
Mimi Thornton followed with an RBI single to right field to bring in Zepeda and cut the deficit to 3-2 after one inning.
In the second, McNeese added another run on an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-2 and a solo home run and a run scoring on a passed ball pushed the lead to 6-2.
Holly Ayala then entered the circle in relief, who helped limit further damage.
The Islanders began chipping away in the fourth.
Skylar Heger singled and
Mackenzie Durr came on to pinch run. After advancing on a misplay and a fielder's choice, Castillo delivered an RBI single to center to make it 6-3. A&M-Corpus Christi added another run in the fifth. Stewart tripled to right field and scored on Thornton's second RBI single of the game, trimming the deficit to 6-4.
McNeese answered in the sixth, stringing together two hits and a sacrifice bunt before a two-run single extended the lead to 8-4. The Islanders were unable to respond in their final two at-bats, going down in order in the sixth and stranding a runner in the seventh.
Thornton led the Islanders offensively with two hits and two RBIs, while Stewart reached base twice, scored twice and added a triple. Castillo contributed an RBI single, and Heger added a hit.
Ayala provided 4.2 innings of relief work to finish the game with a trio of strikeouts and only conceding a pair of runs.
Series Schedule
Saturday, April 11
12 p.m. – Game 2
Stats
ESPN+
2 p.m. – Game 3
Stats
ESPN+
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