CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Traveling down south to Corpus Christi for a three-game series with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Lamar University's softball team hoped for a spark to get them more in a position for a Southland Conference Tournament push. After two contests, LU would settle for a split heading into tomorrow's rubber match.

The bats were quiet in game one as LU fell 1-0. Kaylee Ancelot and Estela Garza would be responsible for LU's only two hits against TAMCC pitcher Primrose Aholelei while Cardinal pitcher Aaliyah Ruiz allowed three hits and struck out two batters in 6.0 innings despite taking the loss.

Trailing 2-0 in game two, the Cardinals chipped away and rallied back to steal the second game 3-2. Garza (RBI) and Aleka Xayaseng would each have two hits while Brooke Davis and Sam Bean also came up with RBI for the win. Karyana Mitchell earned a complete game victory striking out five while giving up four hits and two runs.


Game 1: TAMCC 1, LU 0

The Islanders would score a run in the bottom of the first inning, which proved to be the only run of game one. Aaliyah Ruiz would pitch 6.0 innings allowing three hits and struck out two batters. Islander pitcher Primrose Aholelei took a no-hitter into the sixth inning as she would only allow a walk to Nicolette Ramirez in the second.

With one out in the sixth, Estella Garza would break up the no-hitter with a single, but was left on base. The Cardinals had the tying run in the top of the seventh inning on first after Ancelot singled before a double play ended the contest.


Game 2: LU 3, TAMCC 2

Like the first inning, TAMCC scored in the first inning although this time, they put up two runs. The Cardinals would answer with a run in the third inning as Garza singled in Davis to cut the lead in half. Then in the fifth, Nicolette Ramirez singled to left, was pinch ran for by Kalyn Xayaseng, who advanced to third before scoring on a Davis RBI groundout to tie the score.

After Aleka Xayaseng singled to lead off the sixth, she had to wait two outs before stealing second. That put her in scoring position and it was Bean who came through with the RBI double for LU's first lead of the day at 3-2. LU had a chance to extend their lead in the top of the seventh by loading the bases, but were unsuccessful in driving in any runs.

The Islanders threatened in the bottom of the seventh after a leadoff hit by pitch and a stolen base put the tying run on second. But Mitchell chilled out the rally with a strikeout and two groundouts to herself to preserve the victory and evening the series.


The Cardinals will try to win the series tomorrow with a first pitch time at 12:00 p.m.
 

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