The Texas A&M University-San Antonio Jaguars faced off against the Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Nuggets at home on Friday.
It would be the first of two doubleheaders last weekend.
On Saturday, the Jags then went up against the Louisiana Christian University Lady Wildcats. They swept the series winning the first game 4-1 and the second 6-2.
Game 1 vs The Gold Nuggets (3/18)
The Jags got to work early with a lead-off single from junior second baseman Peyton Vasquez in the bottom of the first inning.
Vasquez then stole second base to get into scoring position.
One batter later freshman catcher Julia Pinzon hit a single down the third baseline to send Vasquez home and put the Jags on top 1-0.
The Gold Nuggets responded in the second, capitalizing on a pair of errors by the Jags to level the score at 1-1.
The Gold Nuggets held the Jags scoreless in the second.
The top of the third inning saw the Jags make a pitching change as junior Ebbie Rodriguez replaced sophomore Jaclynn Lizama.
Rodriguez walked the first batter, but then recorded three straight outs to retire the side.
In the bottom of the third Vasquez hit a single followed by a stolen base.
She then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman third baseman Andrea Ortiz.
Pinzon then drove Vasquez home with a grounder to the Gold Nuggets shortstop who failed to throw out Vasquez at home plate.
The Jags wanted to extend their lead, loading the bases with two outs.
Runners were left stranded after a fly ball from junior left fielder Sidney Garza was caught a few feet short of a grand slam.
The Jags maintained momentum with three straight outs to retire the middle of Gold Nugget’s lineup in the top of the fourth inning.
At the start of the bottom of the inning, the Gold Nuggets recorded outs on the first two batters for the Jags.
Vasquez then hit a line drive to left-center field where the Gold Nuggets left fielder appeared to drop the ball on a diving catch.
Home plate umpire Marvin Cobb, however, called Vasquez out.
The Jags dugout and fans erupted in dismay at the call and Jags head coach Nicole Dufour went out to talk with Cobb.
“His comment was he didn’t see it,” said Dufour after the game. “So I definitely wanted to make sure he asked his partner just to confirm that…I could clearly see that that ball was on the ground.”
Cobb conferred with first base umpire Charlie Wilson and determined that the ball was dropped, and awarded Vasquez a single.
Then she stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and when the throw from Xavier catcher got past the third baseman which allowed Vasquez to score.
The lead was now 3-1.
The fifth inning saw each team record three outs on seven pitches.
The Gold Nuggets responded in the top of the sixth with a lead-off single and stolen base from center fielder Madison Winston.
Winston then advanced to third on a sacrifice grounder from Freshman shortstop Alexis Richardson.
Rodriguez responded by striking out the next batter on three pitches but Winston was able to score following a single to left-center by junior designated player Chenai Keyes.
The Jags put a stop to the Gold Nugget’s rally when Pinzon caught Keyes stealing with a throw from home plate to end the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Garza and junior right fielder Vanessa Garces led off with back-to-back singles.
Sophomore pinch hitter Riana Tovar reached first base on a fielder’s choice, which saw Garza thrown out at third.
Vasquez then loaded the bases with a single.
One batter later Pinzon singled to right-center, scoring two runs.
With the lead extended to three runs, the Jags closed out the game with three straight outs in the top of the seventh inning.
After the game, Coach Dufour praised Vasquez for her performance, “We put ourselves in a better position when we know she leads off and gets on base… She’s definitely one of the fastest people on our team.”
Standout Players of the Game:
Vasquez and Pinzon helped the Jags secure the win with their offensive contributions. Together they contributed to all five of the Jags’ runs.
Second baseman Peyton Vasquez: 4-4, 3 R, 3 SB.
Catcher Julia Pinzon: 2-4, 4 RBI, 1 SB.
Game 2 vs. The Gold Nuggets (3/18)
Game two of the doubleheader got off to a quiet start after Jags recorded three straight outs in the top of the first.
Despite a single and steal from freshman third baseman Andrea Ortiz, the Jags were unable to score in the bottom of the first.
A single and steal by designated player Chenai Keyes led to the first run of the game when second baseman Shay Angelle singled up the middle in the top of the second.
Jags sophomore pitcher Ryanne Limon walked the next batter, but then struck out the next two batters to end the inning and left two Gold Nugget runners stranded on base.
The Jag’s offense started fast when junior left fielder Sidney Garza singled to lead off.
Then junior right fielder Vanessa Garces then reached base on a four-pitch walk.
Sophomore catcher Madeline Arellano then reached first on a fielder’s choice, which saw Garza forced out at third.
Garces and Arellano advanced on a sacrifice grounder from junior center fielder Felicity Alamillo.
Junior shortstop Gabby Mitchell hit a single up the middle that drove Garces home to score a run.
However, the inning came to an end when the Gold Nugget center fielder threw to the catcher who tagged Arellano before she could reach home plate.
After the third inning saw both teams fail to get on base, the top of the fourth inning saw Gold Nugget seize control.
Keyes singled to lead off the inning.
Pitcher Destyn Jones was able to reach first on a fielder’s choice, which also allowed Keyes to reach second following an error from Jags junior second baseman Peyton Vasquez.
A single from Angelle scored the Gold Nuggets’ second run of the game.
Limon walked the next two batters, which brought in another Gold Nuggets run.
That was the end of the outing for Limon as she was replaced by freshman pitcher Bethany Garret.
The Jags recorded outs on the next three at-bats despite one more run scoring on a fielder’s choice
The Gold Nuggets were up 4-1.
The Jags were never able to regain momentum as they were held to just one hit over the final four innings.
Defensively, the Jags responded well to their struggles in the fourth allowing just two hits in the final three innings behind four strikeouts from Garrett.
After the loss, coach Dufour gave her thoughts about the team’s defensive efforts.
“I definitely think we have a fairly solid defense,” Dufour said. “It’s just every now and then they need a wake-up call, and I think they got it…I was happy we were able to play our defensive game at that point because that’s the expectation for us defensively.”
Standout Players of the Game:
Pitching played a big part in deciding the game. The Jag’s Garrett was able to keep the game close after she entered but the Gold Nuggets’ Jones left with the win.
Destyn Jones: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 SO
Bethany Garrett: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 SO
Friday’s loss continued a pattern for the Jags this season as they have struggled to win both games in conference doubleheaders.
“That’s something on our part that we are continuing to work on,” Dufour said. “Making sure we play for 14 innings, we’ve only done that once so far in conference.”
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 or follow the teams’ coverage @tamusasports on all other media sources.
