With 11 games left this season, the Red River Athletic Conference playoffs are right around the corner.
Some teams already clinched a playoff birth, many others are still fighting for a position to extend their season.
Coming into the week following a pair of losses, the Jags were looking to get back into the win column as they had two doubleheader matchups against the Howard Payne University Yellow Jackets and the University of Southwest Mustangs.
Doubleheader vs. Howard Payne University Yellow Jackets April 12
Game 1:
The Jags took control of the game early in the first inning as junior right fielder Peyton Vasquez drew a walk.
Vasquez then stole second to get into scoring position.
Next, junior second baseman Caty Rangel grounded out while advancing Vasquez to third.
Then freshman catcher Julia Pinzon grounded out to shortstop, which allowed Vasquez to score.
The Jags set the tone defensively as sophomore pitcher Ryanne Limon controlled the momentum by shutting down the Yellow Jackets offensively.
After the early run by the Jags, the game remained scoreless till the top of the fifth when freshman third baseman Andrea Ortiz hit a single up the middle.
Ortiz advanced to second on a wild pitch, which put her in scoring position.
In the next at-bat, Vasquez singled and advanced Ortiz to third.
Vasquez then stole second and put two runners in scoring position.
Following the steal, Rangel grounded out to the second baseman which allowed Ortiz to score while advancing Vasquez to third.
Pinzon then doubled to left-center and Vasquez scored their second run of the inning.
The Jags didn’t let off the gas as they scored another insurance run in the top of the seventh to extend their lead.
Limon’s stellar pitching performance shut down the Yellow Jackets and gave the Jags the win.
Final score 4-0.
Game 2:
The second game was rained out, so the Jags headed back home with a win.
Doubleheader vs. University of Southwest Mustangs April 15
Game 1:
After a scoreless first inning for both teams, the Jags struck first in the bottom of the second.
Junior designated player Sidney Garza singled to center field, then Garza stole second.
Ortiz then singled to center field while advancing Garza to third.
Next, junior shortstop Gabby Mitchell drew a walk to load the bases.
In the next at-bat, Vasquez grounded out to second, which allowed Garza to score while Ortiz and Mitchell advanced to second and third.
Rangel then reached first after a dropped pop fly by the Mustangs’ shortstop and the error scored Ortiz and Mitchell.
The score is now 3-0.
In the top of the third, the Mustangs matched the momentum as they scored four runs and took the lead.
The Jags responded in the bottom of the fourth.
Ortiz singled to right field then stole second.
Mitchell then hit a bunt single, which advanced Ortiz to third.
After reaching first, Mitchell stole to put runners on second and third.
Vasquez then doubled to left-center and advanced to third on an error, while Ortiz and Mitchell scored.
Following an error by the Mustangs, Vasquez scored.
In the fifth inning, junior infielder Britney Garcia singled to left field then stole second.
Then freshman first baseman Karina Guzman singled up the middle, while Garcia scored.
Guzman then stole second.
Following the steal, Mitchell singled to the pitcher and Guzman scored.
Vasquez then singled to center and advanced Mitchell to second.
Next, Rangel singled to right, which scored Mitchell but Vasquez was thrown out at home to end the inning.
After scoring early, the Mustangs couldn’t get the bats going as they remained scoreless for the remainder of the game.
Final score 9-4.
Game 2:
The Mustangs got off to a fast start by scoring in the top of the first.
In the bottom of the second, the Jags’ Garcia singled to right-center.
Garza then drew a walk, which advanced Garcia to second.
Next, Guzman hit a sacrifice bunt and it allowed Garcia to score while advancing Garza to third.
The score is 1-1.
For the next three innings, both teams were held scoreless.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Jags got off to a fast start as Pinzon reached first on a throwing error by the Mustangs’ shortstop.
Garcia then hit a sacrifice bunt that advanced Pinzon to third.
In the next at-bat, Garcia doubled to right-center to score Pinzon.
Guzman then followed up with a double to left field that scored Garza.
Lastly, Ortiz singled to center, which advanced Guzman to third. Although Ortiz’s attempt to reach second allowed Guzman to advance home to score the third run of the inning.
The late-inning hitting display by the Jags secured the win for them.
Final score 4-1.
Standout Players of the Week:
Vasquez and Garza were the standout players of the week. Their contributions offensively helped the Jags win three straight games.
- Vasquez: .444 batting average, 4 R, 3 RBI, 4 SB, 2 BB
- Garza .750 batting average, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 SB, 1 BB
The Jags will be on the road for their next three conference doubleheaders, as they try to fight for a spot in the RRAC tournament.
One of the three doubleheaders will be against the Texas A&M University-Texarkana Eagles, who are first in the East division of the RRAC and 14th ranked in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
This second-year program will be put to the test late in the season to see if they got what it takes to make a run into the playoffs.
For more information and news about A&M-San Antonio’s softball team, visit their social media account on Twitter, @TamusaSoftball, and Instagram, @Tamusa_softball. Team coverage can be found at @tamusasports on all other social media platforms.
