McNeese State Earns 11-3 Win Against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
SAN ANTONIO, Texas
– The No. 3 seed McNeese State Cowgirls outslugged the No. 6 seed Texas
A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders 11-3 in six innings to advance in the winner’s
bracket at the 2012 Southland Conference Softball Tournament at Roadrunner
Field in San Antonio, Texas.
McNeese
State (33-19) plated a pair runs in each of the first four innings to jump out
to the early lead and never trailed. The Cowgirls pushed three runs across the
plate in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the game and advance. Sophomore
Katie Roux started the final inning with a lead-off home run to left center
field. Senior Claire Terracina, who went 3-for-4 on the day with a double and
four runs scored, continued the rally with a single. After a single from Lauren
Langner, Terracina would score on a single from sophomore Alanna DiVittorio.
Ashley Modzelewski would knock in the final run of the game with a single to
center field, scoring Langer.
The
Cowgirls started the first inning by loading the bases with two walks and a
single. Terracina scored the first run of the game on a fielding error from
Islander’s third baseman Julia Sanford on a Marissa Koetting groundball. The
Cowgirls would score their second run on a fielder’s choice before the Islanders
could escape the opening inning.
The
Cowgirls doubled their lead in the second inning when third baseman Kim Kennedy
opened the inning with a double and then advanced to third on a bunt single
from Terracina. Kennedy would cross the plate for McNeese’s third run of the
game on a fielder’s choice. Terracina completed the scoring for the Cowgirls in
the second when she scored on a single from DiVittorio.
A&M-Corpus
Christi (17-22) cut into the lead with two runs of its own in the top of the
third inning after a throwing error with the bases loaded. Lauren Phillips
grounded to third baseman Kennedy, who drew the force out at home, but a
throwing error from catcher from Stacey Conley in the double play attempt
plated two Islanders.
McNeese
answered right back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Terracina
would push pinch-runner Kelsey Jolly across with a two-out double to center
field. Terracina would score on a single from Langner to center, which forced
the Islanders to make a pitching change, bringing in Jordan Trujillo in favor
of starter Greta Cecchetti.
The
fourth inning saw two more Cowgirls’ runs on a two-out rally. Conley started
the rally by drawing a walk and then advancing to second on a single from Roux.
First baseman Dani Price’s double to left field would bring both runners across
to push the score to 8-2.
Senior
Tiffany Denham picked up the win to improve to 14-10 on the year while
Cecchetti was charged with the loss, falling to 10-7 on the year.
McNeese
State advances to face the No. 2 seed Sam Houston State tonight at
approximately 6:30 p.m. A&M-Corpus Christi will play the loser of the Texas
State and UTSA game in an elimination game tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.