WACO, Texas – After falling behind 5-0 in the first inning, the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team rallied back to score three runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the sixth to push ahead. Wichita State (3-2), however, tacked on a run in the fourth before putting together a three-run bottom of the sixth to garner a 9-8 win on the final day of the Getterman Classic at Getterman Stadium.
The Islanders (0-5) exploded for a season-high 13 hits while the Shockers tallied 11. Sophomore Liz Carter went 3-for-4 with a double, while sophomore Brittney Morse, sophomore Jessica Mendez, senior Mickayla Cochran and senior Hayley Galloway each chipped in two apiece. Galloway also racked up 3 RBIs and her first triple of her career.
A&M - Corpus Christi loaded the bases in the opening frame with one out but the Shockers' defense came up big to end the threat. Sophomore Mackinzee Griebel, who led off for the Islanders for the first time this season started the game with a single to left field before recording the Islanders' first stolen base of the season. After a fly out, Morse reached on a walk and Carter followed with a hard single to left center. With the bases loaded, WSU's Katie Malone retired the next two Islanders.
The Shockers put up the first runs of the game in the bottom of the first after scoring five runs on six hits and capitalizing on a couple Islanders' mishaps. Cacy Williams hit a leadoff double through the left side and Mackenzie Wright followed with a RBI single through the middle to plate Williams and put the Shockers on the board. WSU's Brittany Fortner then reached on an Islanders' fielding error to put runners on first and second. After another error by the Islanders scored Wright, Fortner scored on a RBI ground out by Melanie Jaegers. Wichita State then hit four consecutive singles to score two more runs before Cochran snagged a fly out in center field to end the frame.
Wichita State maintained its lead until the Islanders rallied back in the top of the fourth with three runs to cut the deficit to two. Cosette Hernandez reached on a walk to open the frame and after a strikeout, Lindsey Lyles also reached on walk to put Islanders on first and second. Galloway then stepped to the plate and drilled her first career triple to right center to score Hernandez and Lyles, and put the Islanders on the board. After a strikeout, Dani Tefft ripped a hard RBI infield single to plate Galloway for the Islanders' third run of the game.
The Shockers tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth after Williams stole home after leading off the inning with a double to right field, and advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mackenzie Wright.
A&M - Corpus Christi's bats caught fire in the next two frames to trim WSU's lead to one. The Islanders scored a pair of runs on three hits in the fifth, before putting together a three-run top of the sixth on four hits. In the fifth, Carter reached on a walk before Mendez hit a single through the middle. Hernandez then reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases as Savannah Sandoval, who came in to pinch run for Carter, stole second for her first stolen base of her career. With bases loaded, Sandoval was called out at home on a fielder's choice by Cochran, before Lyles reached on a fielding error by WSU to score Mendez and load the bases once more. Galloway then responded with a RBI single through the left side to plate Hernandez before Cochran was called out at home on a fielder's choice by Griebel. Tefft grounded out to the pitcher to end the rally with three Islanders left on base.
With the Islanders trailing by one, the squad ignited for four hits in the sixth to garner a 8-6 lead. Morse and Carter hit back-to-back singles before Mendez followed suit with a RBI single through the middle to score Morse. With Carter on third and Mendez on second, a wild pitch by the Shockers scored Carter as Mendez swiped second. Hernandez then reached on a fielding error by WSU and Mendez moved to third, before Cochran ripped a RBI single to center field to score Mendez. The Shockers retired the next three Islanders to end the frame.
Heading into the bottom of the sixth the Islanders held a 8-6 lead, but their lead slowly evaporated as the Shockers scored three runs on a pair of hits to take the lead. Ashley Johnson reached on a walk to start the frame and advanced to second on a ground out by Kelli Spring. After a walk and single loaded the bases, Fortner hit a two-run double to right field to score Johnson and Williams. WSU garnered the lead then after Macklin Hitz hit a long sacrifice fly out to center field to score Wright. Griebel then grabbed a fly out in right field to end the frame.
Carter blasted her third career double in the top of the seventh with two outs but a strikeout by WSU ended the game.
Junior Stephanie Flores (0-2) suffered the loss for the Islanders. She gave up five hits, four runs and four walks while striking out three in five innings. Sophomore Katie Blanar earned her first start in the circle this season and gave up six hits and five runs, just one of them earned in one inning.
Jenni Brooks (1-1) secured the win for the Shockers in two innings. She held the Islanders to three hits and one run while recording one strikeout.
The Islanders will now return to the Coastal Bend to host the four-day Islanders Invitational on Feb. 12-15. The Islanders will welcome Wisconsin, UAB and South Dakota to Chapman Field. Check out the invitational schedule HERE and order your season tickets online HERE or by calling 825-BALL (2255).
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