The No. 2 TAMUK softball team picked up six-straight wins on opening weekend in Conroe, Texas.
Day one of the Arkansas Tech Invitational saw the Javelinas pick up their first and second wins of 2020 with victories over the No. 7 Central Oklahoma Bronchos, 4-1, and the Pittsburg State Gorillas, 4-2.
Pitcher Breanna Smith picked up her first win of the season against the Bronchos. Smith was nearly perfect in the first five innings, only allowing a single hit and fanning seven. She closed out the Javelinas first matchup with a perfect seventh inning.
Outfielders Jory Cervantes and Loren Kelly paved the way at the plate, picking up three and two hits, respectively.
Despite falling behind 1-0 in their second matchup, the Blue and Gold were able to battle back to a 4-2 victory over Pittsburg State to close out their first day of action.
Saidi Castillo picked up her first win of 2020 against the Gorillas. Mackenzie Mays and Anastasia Leibas knocked in one run a-piece, and Cervantes and Matisen Onofrei both crossed the plate for the Javelina offense.
In an interview with Javelina Athletics, Coach Craig Nicholson was pleased with his team’s play on day one.
“We played pretty well. Maybe a little over-excited in certain spots, but our pitching and defense were pretty good and we got some timely hits when we needed them. These were good wins against good ballclubs,” Nicholson said.
Day two provided the Javelinas with an opportunity to test themselves against a pair of ranked opponents in No. 14 Southern Arkansas Muleriders and the No. 21 Arkansas Tech Golden Suns.
Smith allowed zero runs and only one hit in the first five innings of the Javelina’s 5-4 victory over the Muleriders. Leibas led the Blue and Gold offensively, picking up two hits, two RBIs and her first home run of the season. Makenzie Mays added two hits and an RBI of her own. Smith would pick up the win on the mound.
The Golden Suns proved to be no match for the Blue and Gold in the second matchup of day two. The TAMUK offensive attack propelled them to a 12-7 victory. Cervantes, Leibas, Onofrei and Natalie Rodriguez each picked up a pair of hits. Onofrei and Leibas swatted in five and three runs, respectively. Freshman Presley Smith picked up her first win of the spring.
TAMUK concluded their final day of play in Conroe with an 8-0 drumming of No. 21 Tarleton State and a 3-1 victory over Minnesota Duluth.
“Outstanding pitching today from Bre and Saidi. Our offense was excellent against TSU and in game two, Pederson really kept us in check, but we found a way to have some good swings late and close out the weekend,” said Nicholson in a post-game interview with Javelina Athletics.
Kelly, Cervantes and Claire Chernosky evenly combined for six hits against the Texans and Breanna Smith tallied her third win of the season.
Castillo kept Minnesota Duluth in check in opening weekend’s final matchup, picking up her second win of the spring. Onofrei led the attack at the plate, swatting two hits in her three at-bats. Kelly, Reyes and Micaela Castaneda each added one hit a-piece.
The second-ranked Blue and Gold continue play on the road Feb. 8 in Arkadelphia, Ark.
