Blue and gold shines in Lone Star conference
For the first time since 2008, the Lady Javelinas are 4-0 in the Lone Star Conference (LSC).
After a long weekend, the Texas A&M University Kingsville (TAMUK) women’s softball team combined runs and big-time plays to find themselves ahead on the leaderboard.
The No. 19 TAMUK softball team, which scored a doubleheader sweep of the St. Mary’s Rattlers on Sunday, 13-1 and 9-1, was in LSC action at Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field in Kingsville, Texas.
“Opening weekend in conference, you put yourself in a great position going 4-0,” coach Craig Nicholson told Javelina Athletics. This team’s been through a lot the last two weeks. It felt like we were hitting our stride offensively and then we had to take 10 days off. All weekend, we had some at-bats where we just battled our way through them.”
“Our girls want more for themselves every weekend we have the chance to do so. They are capable of much more greater things. That’s the sign of a team that wants to compete and has the capability to compete late in the season.”
Overall, the Javelinas own the best record in the conference thus far.
TAMUK blew open the first game against St. Mary’s, with big time moves performed by freshman duo, Natalie Rodriguez and Lizette Del Angel. After allowing a single to the game’s first batter, Del Angel held the Rattlers hitless for the rest of the day and only issued one walk.
“The game was intense,” Del Angel said. “We knew what we needed to do to solidify our standing and collect the wins.”
The blue and gold would then open with a nine-run fourth that started with a walk, an error and a bunt single.
St. Mary’s managed to get on board the second game only allowing their opponents to rally back in the second half.
In the second game, starter Saidi Castillo (Kingsville, Texas) kept the Rattlers in check for six innings, allowing only one run on six hits while striking out nine. Throwing back-to-back strikeouts, Castillo finds herself with a 4-0 record.
“Our team is capable of so much, we all believe we can make so many things happen for our program this season,” Castillo said.
The Javelinas edged both games with high energy maintained in all innings, and are looking to continue with their well-earned success.
The Javelinas will play their first road conference doubleheader on Friday, when they visit Lawton, Okla., taking on the Cameron Aggies in doubleheader that will begin at 4 p.m.