SAN ANGELO, Texas (February 10, 2018) – Texas A&M International University softball had its best offensive performance in more than nine years pounding out 23 runs on 20 hits in a 23-12 victory over Adams State at the George & Ola McCorkle Challenge hosted in San Angelo, Texas. Six Dustdevils drove in two or more runs including
Cassie Cannon who went 5-of-5 from the plate with a double, home run driving in two runs. TAMIU would drop a heartbreaker to Florida Tech, 6-5, in extra innings in the nightcap.
Due to a schedule change, the Dustdevils will finish the tournament with a pair of games tomorrow starting with the Panthers at 2:30 p.m. followed by a matchup against No. 2 Angelo State at 4 p.m. Links for live stats and video can be found at GoDustdevils.com at the softball schedule page.
TAMIU 23 Adams State 12
It was the Grizzlies who struck first in the bottom of the second as Brittany Phillips reached base on an error before moving over to third on a sac bunt. Following a fly out to first base, Taya McWilliams walked after fouling off four straight pitches on a 3-2 count before stealing second. Kaytlynn Johnson would also walk to the load the bases with two outs. April Riggins would clear the bases at the next at-bat taking the 2-2 offering to right field for a triple giving ASC a 3-0 lead.
Krystal Perez singled to the start the top of the third for the Dustdevils followed by a single to right by
Cassie Cannon putting runners on second and third with one out.
Melanie Gamboa ground out was enough to bring Perez across making it 3-1 in favor of the Grizzlies.
The Dustdevils unleashed their offense in the top of the fourth scoring eight runs to take a 9-3 lead.
Lindsey Smith got the party started with a single to left before
Maya Paul walked on five pitches.
Alyssa Acuna loaded the bases with a single to the right side.
Robi Kami reached on a fielder's choice as Smith was thrown at home before
Brandi Giles drilled her first career grand slam over the left field wall. Just two batters later,
Cassie Cannon joined in on the fun hitting her first homer of the season. Following a pitching change,
Lindsey Smith drove in two runs with a double as Gamboa and
Maddison Schofield came around to score after reaching base via walks. Paul batting for the second time of the inning drove in Smith with a double of her own to left.
After the Grizzlies added one in the bottom half of the fourth, TAMIU would add another nine in the top of the fifth making it 18-4. Giles reached base on a one out single to right field with pinch runner
Amanda Hinojosa advancing to second on a walk to Perez. Cannon's third hit of the game loaded the bases for Gamboa who doubled down the left field line driving in two. Schofield would plate two more at the next at-bat with a single down the same side followed by Smith's third home of the season.
Sarah Sandoval reached by when she was hit by a pitch with
Amanda Davila walking on four straight pitches setting for Giles to add another RBI with a single to left field. Pinch hitter
Acacia Salinas continued the momentum as her fly ball to first was too much to handle plating Davila. Cannon batting for the second time of the inning brought home Giles with a double to left.
The Grizzlies weren't going down without a fight as they scored eight of their own in the bottom half of the inning on four hits making it a 18-12 ball game in favor of TAMIU. Acuna picked up another RBI in the top of the sixth with a double to left to played Smith after the junior walked earlier in the inning. Another four runs came across the plate in the top of the sixth as TAMIU eclipsed the 20-run mark for the first time since Feb. 22, 2009 when they scored a school-record 25 against Langston.
Sara Caterson (1-1) picked up her first win of the season going four innings fiving up seven earned runs on eight hits and five walks while striking out one. Melaine Lint pitched a perfect 2.2 innings in relief.
Florida Tech 6, TAMIU 5 (8 innings)
Gamboa opened the scoring for the Dustdevils as the Laredo, Texas product took a 1-0 offering over the left field fence for her first career home run.
Delainy Thompson held the Panthers at bay until the bottom of the seventh when Makayla Palmer reached base with a leadoff double. A sac bunt would advance her to third with one out as she would come around to score at the next at-bat on Rebecca Wilson's single to center.
The Dustdevils' offense came up alive in the top of the eight as Schofield started the inning at second base. The junior advanced to third on a wild pitch before Paul reached on an error by the third basemen with one out. Following a stolen base from Paul, Acuna drove home Schofield with a single to center.
Alyssa Soneff was the next Dustdevil up and she followed suite plating Paul with a single of her own.
Samantha Edmiston would drive in two more runs with two outs with a double to left giving TAMIU a 5-1 lead heading to the bottom half of the inning.
The Panthers would load the bases with noe outs before Jessica Callahan singled up the middle as two runs came around to score. Another walk reloaded the bases for FITS before Victoria Szrom's two-run double tied the game at 5-all. Following a pitching change, Szrom would come around to score on a double to left by Vanessa Rubio handing the Dustdevils their first extra inning loss of the season.
Thompson (1-3) went seven innings allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits and two walks while striking out a season-high three.
