TYLER, TEXAS – #20 UT Tyler softball moved to 39-11 overall and 31-7 in LSC play after a 1-1 split with Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday at Irwin Field.
GAME ONE: #20 UT Tyler 8 | Texas A&M-Kingsville 0
UT Tyler's offense exploded late, and starter
Alli Kimball was effective in a complete game shutout.
Kimball allowed a leadoff single to begin the game, but she sat the next three hitters down in order and added in a strikeout to go unblemished. She would hit a batter with two outs in the second, but again worked around the runner to put up another zero.
She worked her first 1-2-3 frame in the third, and again was scoreless in the fourth as the Javelinas got their first runner to second base for the game via a double. In the fifth, two singles put a pair on, but a flyout, lineout, and groundout would end the threat.
The Patriots offense was quiet through the first three, but a titanic two run homer off the videoboard from
Taryn Barney busted the game open in the fourth inning to make it 2-0.
That offense came alive in the fifth, playing small ball behind a single, walk, and wild pitch before a bunt single drove home the first run. Two batters later it was
Laci Berecochea looping a single down the right field line for two more RBI, bringing Barney back up with two on and a 5-0 lead.
On the third pitch of her at-bat, lightning struck again as Barney barreled another one over the left field wall for a three run homer and the run-rule win.
Kimball allowed four hits and no walks while striking out one in her complete game to move to 10-1.
Taryn Barney went 2-for-3 with two homers and five RBI to lead the offense.
GAME TWO: #20 UT Tyler 2 | Texas A&M-Kingsville 5
UT Tyler starter
Kendall Selitzky would carry the day early, getting a 1-2-3 first inning with a strikeout and then a scoreless second while allowing just one baserunner.
The Javelinas got to her in the third to open the scoring, delivering on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. The Patriots offense answered in the home half, backing up their pitcher with an RBI single from
Dezirae Lopez and a sacrifice fly from Berecochea to even up the score at 2-2 after three full frames.
Selitzky went 1-2-3 again in the fourth, posting her second and third strikeouts of the game. She would add another in the fifth, working around a walk and a single for another zero on the scoreboard.
In the sixth, the Javelinas would lead off with a single and move that runner up with a groundout. The next batter would reach on an error, and the ball bounced away just far enough into center field to allow the runner to scamper home and make it a 3-2 game.
Texas A&M-Kingsville would tack on two more in the top of the seventh, getting an RBI walk after loading the bases. The next batter would add a sacrifice fly, expanding the lead out to 5-2.
The Patriots were unable to mount a rally in the home half of the seventh, getting just one runner on base before the Javelinas ended the game.
Selitzky would take just her fourth loss of the season after going 6.1 innings with seven hits, five runs (three earned), three walks, and four strikeouts.
Seven different players recorded a hit for the Patriots in game two, and
Megan Lau led the way with a 2-for-3 day.
UT Tyler will be back in action for their final two games of the regular season on Sunday as they take on Texas A&M International. At approximately 12:30 they will host a graduation ceremony for their graduating seniors. Following the games they will have their senior day ceremony.
