April 20, 2012
Final Stats
LAREDO - The Texas A&M International University softball team secured the third seed heading into next week's Heartland Conference Tournament, after splitting a double header with UT-Permian Basin Friday afternoon at Dustdevil Field.
The Dustdevils committed four errors in the opening game, two in the top of the seventh, as the Falcons took game one 2-1, but the home team rallied in the nightcap as freshman Mariena Gallardo delivered the game winning hit in the ninth inning lifting TAMIU to a 2-1 win.
The win gives the Dustdevils an 8-6 conference record, two games better than UTPB (6-8) with only one conference game remaining in the season.
GAME ONE:
The opening game remained scoreless until the third when UTPB's Anna Hollingsworth took advantage of a run down between first and second to come across.
The Falcons added another run in the fifth taking advantage of the first of four TAMIU errors. Leslianne Ericson and Hollingsworth led off with back-to-back singles before Jackie Guzman reached on a throwing error by TAMIU's Cassandra Deleon, pulling Sam Carrillo off the bag at third trying to get the lead runner on a sacrifice bunt. Kristen LaBuhn turned a spectacular double play on the next at bat, catching a tough pop-fly in shallow center and doubling up Hollingsworth at second. Adriana Gonzalez was a step too late on a diving effort after a sharply hit ground ball from Lucero Porras, allowing Ericson to come across.
TAMIU answered with two runs in the bottom half, all coming with two outs. Nikki Salazar singled to center field before Esme Gonzalez tripled to right field giving the Dustdevils their first run of the game. LaBuhn followed with an RBI single to center field, tying the game at two.
In the top of the seventh Jackie Guzman led off with a single to left field and advanced to second after the ball inexplicably went under the glove of TAMIU right fielder Esme Gonzalez. After a sacrifice bunt moved Guzman to third, pitcher Kyndall Reaves was off the mark on a throw to first on another sacrifice attempt, allowing the Falcons to grab a 3-2 lead.
The Dustdevils picked up only six hits in the game led by Labuhn and Salazar who both finished 2-3. Reaves took the loss falling to 6-13 on the season, but allowed only one earned run off seven hits in a complete game effort.
GAME TWO:
A pitcher's duel all the way, neither team was able to get on the board until the UTPB struck first in the fifth. Guzman led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a Porras single. Utilizing the double steal, Porras was thrown out at second allowing Guzman to come across to grab a 1-0 lead.
The Dustdevils looked poised to steal the game away in the seventh loading up the bases with no outs, but only came away with one run. Gallardo singled to left field scoring Rochelle Nash from third, but Morales was tagged out at the plate attempting to end the game on an errant throw from the outfield. Emily Smith and Esme Gonzalez each flied out with chances to win the game.
Morales led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to center field, before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lauren Tucker. Gallardo stepped up and delivered the game winning hit, roping a pitch just past the outstretched arms of the UTPB left fielder, allowing Morales to score from second.
In addition to driving in the game winning run, Gallardo was also the winning pitcher allowing one run on six hits with three strikeouts and one walk in nine complete innings. The win was Gallardo's sixth complete game of the season and lifted her record to 5-9 on the season with a 3.72 ERA.
Morales also had a big game at the plate, finishing 3-4 after going 0-3 in the opening game.
The Dustdevils will conclude the series with UTPB Saturday morning at Dustdevil Field at 11:00 a.m. You can listen to the game cast by following this link: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/tamiu.portal#.
