April 14, 2012
Final Stats
GOODWELL, Okla. - The Texas A&M International University softball team secured their second consecutive berth in the Heartland Conference Tournament Saturday afternoon, after Freshman pitcher Sarah Johnson put on a masterful performance versus Oklahoma Panhandle State in their series finale.
Johnson nearly missed a perfect game throwing a one-hit shutout with one strikeout and no walks, as the Dustdevils blasted the Aggies 8-0 in five innings via the mercy rule. The sweep propels the Dustdevils (7-5) into third place in the conference standings with a two game lead over fourth place UT-Permian Basin (5-7) and a four game lead over OPSU (3-9). TAMIU will host UT-Permian Basin in their final series of the season, needing only one win to secure the third seed heading into the postseason.
The TAMIU offense scattered ten hits against the OPSU pitching staff and got homeruns from Emily Smith, Regina Morales and Sam Carillo.
The Dustdevils stormed out of the gates scoring five runs over the first two innings. Kristen LaBuhn was hit by a pitch to lead off the first and advanced to second on a stolen base. With two-away Carrillo picked up her first of two RBI, plating LaBuhn on a single to left field.
In the second, Emily Smith got things going with a solo homerun which was followed by back-to-back singles by Nikki Salazar and Esme Gonzalez. LaBuhn stepped in and cleared the bases with an inside the park homerun after the center fielder misplayed a single back up the middle.
The Dustdevils flexed their offensive muscle in the fourth, picking up their final three runs of the game. With two away, Rochelle Nash singled to center field before pinch hitter Regina Morales hit a two-run bomb over the left field wall. Carrillo kept the rally going with a solo shot of her own, slamming the door shut on the Aggies.
The Dustdevils will travel to Canyon, Texas on April 15 to take on West Texas A&M in a doubleheader. before returning home to conclude the regular season versus UT-Permian Basin on April 20.
