The Texas A&M Javelinas may have taken the final game in the three game series against the Wildcat softball team Saturday, but ACU still took the series.
The Wildcats (20-9, 6-5) won both games of the doubleheader Friday, but fell 12-7 Saturday afternoon in the series’ final game.
Kingsville scored 11 combined runs in the fourth and fifth innings Saturday en route to winning the game and salvaging the series sweep.
Abilene Christian took a 5-1 lead into the fourth inning after scoring five runs in the bottom of the third. But, the Javelinas roped out six hits and made the ACU defense pay on a key error to make the lead 8-5.
Freshman Lee Cordova hit a two-run single in the fourth, and junior catcher Kodie Garner smoked a single to right field that scored two, and a fielding error by sophomore Lyndi Smith caused a third run to come home, making the score 8-5.
In the fifth inning, the Javelinas unleashed three more hits and cashed in another ACU error to extend their lead to 11-6. Sophomore Kaylee Villanueva hit a three-run double to left field that proved to be the dagger for the game.
ACU pitcher Caitlyn Crain was handed the loss, as her record falls to 9-2 on the year. Brianna Fowlkes and Sara Vaughn each had homeruns for the Wildcats for an ACU offense that struggled in the latter innings of this game. ACU left 12 runners stranded on the bases in the loss.
In game one of the doubleheader Friday, the Wildcats were led by a stellar pitching performance by sophomore Peyton Mosley en route to a 4-2 win.
Mosley threw a complete game, allowing only three hits and surrendering only one earned run in the game. She had three strikeouts and improved her record to 7-5 on the season.
“The first game Friday definitely set the tone for that day,” Mosley said. “I just went out on the field each inning and worked on conquering each hitter one pitch at a time.”
ACU struck first, scoring in the first inning when sophomore Courtney Flanary passed home plate on a past ball. The Wildcats extended their lead in the third when Flanary scored on a Kimberly Briggs double, making the score 2-0.
The Javelinas fought back though. Gardner hit a solo homerun that ricocheted off the scoreboard in left field, cutting the lead to one.
However, ACU countered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning off of RBI singles by Briggs and senior Sarah Martinez.
Texas A&M-Kingsville had a scoring opportunity in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded and one out by way of two ACU fielding errors. But, the Javelinas only came away with one unearned run in a rally attempt that Mosley quickly closed the door on.
Flanary finished the game with three runs scored and two hits. Briggs contributed with two RBI’s.
Sophomore Lauren Denney picked up the loss, giving up four runs in four innings of work.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Crain led the charge and was dominant on the mound, throwing a complete game, four-hit shutout en route to a 1-0 win for the Wildcats. Crain had eight strikeouts in the game and improved her record to 9-1 on the season.
The Javelinas’ pitching staff made things difficult for the ACU offense as well in a true pitchers’ duel. Junior Denise Arnold and Denney.
“Caitlyn did an awesome job during the second game as well,” Mosley said. “The two wins on Friday were whole team efforts, and they were exactly what we needed in terms of winning the series.”
ACU’s lone run came in the third when Flanary hit an RBI single that scored Winkfield, proving to be all the Wildcats would need. Winkfield also contributed offensively with two hits.
Arnold was given the loss after 4.1 innings of work and allowing five hits.
The Wildcats are currently sitting in fifth place in the Lone Star Conference standings and have a three-game homestand this weekend against rival West Texas A&M. A doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. Friday and a one game Saturday at 1 p.m. are on slate as the Wildcats hope to improve their LSC standing.
