CORPUS CHRISTI – The Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders took the Southland Conference opening twin bill over the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team on Friday afternoon at Chapman Field via scores of 1-0 and 10-3, respectively.
 
The Lions fall to 5-19 overall and 0-2 in conference play, while the Islanders are 14-6 and 2-0 in conference and are now 5-0 all-time against the Lions, who have lost 11 in a row.
 
"We have to do a better job, as pitching staff, of getting out of innings when we have two outs and not extending the inning," said coach Brittany Miller. "We had plenty of scoring opportunities, but just failed to capitalize at the plate."
 
Game 1: A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI 1, A&M-COMMERCE 0
The Lions left seven runners on base in game one, while being shutout for the second straight game. In the top of the first, the Lions loaded the bases with one out, but a line out double play ended the inning.
 
The Islanders had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the first as well and left 10 runners on base in the game. The Lions escaped the inning after a pitching change and then a foul out and a pop out. In the bottom of the fourth, Felixia Hinojosa singled through the left side with one out and was pinch run for by Erin Villela.
 
Rhea-Ann Avalos drew a walk and Sidney Campion hit a bunt single, loading the bases with one out. Alina  Jasso drove in the only run of the game on a sacrifice fly to right.
 
The Lions had runners at second and third with one out in the top of the fifth, but A&M-Commerce failed to bring in a run as a strikeout and groundout ended the inning.
 
Taniece Tyson went 2 for 3 for the Islanders, while Primrose Aholelei moved to 8-4 on the season with a complete-game shutout. She struck out six, walked three, and allowed two hits.
 
Tehya Pitts (Denton – Guyer) led off the game with a base hit and stole two bases in the game, while Jenna Joyce (Royse City) came in as a pinch hitter and had a hit as well.
 
Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) started the game for the Lions, but was pulled after an out in the bottom of the first and the bases loaded. Anissa Arredondo (San Antonio – Warren) pitched the final 5.2 innings, being charged with the loss. She struck out six, while allowing six hits and two walks.
 
Game 2: A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI 10, A&M-COMMERCE 3
Pitts drew a walk to lead off the game, moved to second on a groundout and stole third, but was stranded there, as a strikeout and groundout ended the inning.
 
Jasso singled to right in the bottom of the first, Kimane Rogron reached on a fielder's choice, as Jasso was tagged out at second. After a fly out, Rogron stole second and Monee Montilla drew a two-out walk and Paolina Baez drilled a three-run home run to center.
 
After an out in the bottom of the second, Campion doubled, and following a strikeout, Jasso doubled to left, plating Campion. Rogron reached on a two-out fielding error by the Lions, with Jasso scoring unearned, while Rogron advanced to second and she scored on a one-run single to right center by Tyson.
 
Tatum Wright (Frisco – Centennial) drew a walk to lead off the fourth and was pinch run for KK Cosek (Helendale, Calif.). Charli Anger (Lubbock – Cooper) reached on a bunt single, being pinch run for by Lencia Powell (Birdville).
 
Both runners advanced a base on a passed ball with Darby Hickey (Plano Senior) singling to center to drive in Cosek, while Powell was tagged out at home. The Lions had an opportunity to add more with runners at the corners and one out, but a runner-left-early putout and pop out ended the threat.
 
Rogron walked and Tyson singled to left to put two on with an out in the bottom of the fourth. After a flyout, Baez singled up the middle, plating Rogron. Baez stole second and both her and Villela, who pinch ran for Tyson, came around to score on a two-run single by Crystal Davila.
 
Looking to avoid the run-rule loss, Kasey Kuyrkendall (Royse City) hit an infield single with an out in the fifth. Pitts singled to second, while Isabela Arzola (Chino, Calif.) drove in both runners on a single down the right field line, but was tagged out at second on the play.
 
Karisa Lopez reached on a fielding error in the bottom of the fifth. She stole second and moved to third on a ground out by Jasso, eventually scoring on a throwing error by the Lions on the play. A&M-Commerce left five runners on base in the second.
 
Pitts went 2 for 3 with a stolen base in the second game. Jasso, Tyson, and Baez went 2 for 4 each for the Islanders in the game.
 
Maddie Muller (Frisco – Memorial) got the loss for the Lions. She allowed the three-run home run to Baez, being charged with three earned runs in 0.2 innings. A&M-Commerce used four pitchers in the game.
 
For the Islanders, Malia Williams was the starter, allowing an earned run in 3.1 innings, while Ariella Saenz got the win. She allowed two earned runs in 3.2 innings.
 
UP NEXT
The series concludes with a single game on Saturday at noon.