HOUSTON – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team was leading Illinois 6-1 in the top of the fourth today at the Houston Hilton Plaza Classic, when rain showers suspended play for the day at Cougar Softball Stadium. The Islanders game against Houston that was scheduled for 3 p.m. today has been canceled.
The Islanders (1-11-1) and Fighting Illini (5-8) will resume play at 9 a.m. tomorrow in the top of the fourth and will wrap the classic against New Mexico after the completion of the first game.
In the top of the first, Illinois put up a run on one hit to take a 1-0 lead. After a leadoff double by Allie Bauch, Alyssa Gunther advanced her to third on a sacrifice bunt. Ruby Rivera then followed with a RBI groundout to shortstop to score Bauch and put the Fighting Illini on the board. Islanders' hurler Liz Carter pulled the Islanders out with her first strikeout of the game.
The Islanders quickly answered in the bottom of the first with a run on one hit to even the game at 1-1. With two outs, Brittney Morse sent her 10th career homer and second this season over the center field wall for the Islanders' first run of the game.
After a scoreless second inning, the Islanders' bats ignited for six hits and five runs in the bottom of the third. Lindsey Lyles started the frame with her third double of the season with a shot down the left field line before landing on third after Savannah Sandoval ripped a single through the left side. Sandoval then swiped her second stolen base of the season before Cosette Hernandez hit an infield single to load the bases for Dani Tefft. The junior hit a RBI groundout to shortstop to plate Lyles. Morse then followed with her third double of the season to left center to score Hernandez and Sandoval, and make it a 4-1 lead for the Islanders. Carter kept the Islanders' bats alive with a single to right center to advance Morse to third. With runners on the corners, Mendez reached on a walk to load the bases. After Galloway hit a fly out for the second out of the frame, senior Mickayla Cochran nailed a two-run single to right field to bring Carter and Morse across home plate. Illinois pulled out of the inning with a strikeout.
Carter was facing Brittany Sanchez at the plate with a 3-2 count in the top of the fourth when rain suspended play.
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