HOBBS, New Mexico — Anna Westberry pitched a gem in the opener of Friday’s conference doubleheader against University of the Southwest, but the hosts bounced back to win the second game and split the series with the fourth-ranked Eagles (19-2 overall, 4-2 RRAC).
GAME 1
TAMU-T 9, USW 0 (6 innings)
Westberry (8-1) struck out a season-high 15 batters and gave up just one hit in a shutout victory over the Mustangs (6-12, 2-4). The junior faced just 19 batters in the game, walked none and got 12 of her 15 strikeouts on swinging third strikes.
Katie Slamer tripled twice and had three hits while driving in three runs. Sarah Velasquez doubled twice, and Baylee Stautzenberger also drove in three runs as the Eagles totaled 11 hits and six four extra bases.
TAMU-T opened the scoring in the third with a pair of runs, then made 3-0 with Velasquez’ RBI-double in the fourth. Slamer tripled to score a run in the fifth, then later scored on a sac fly from Stautzenberger. The Eagles added four runs in the sixth on a Molly Harrison single, triple from Macey Cutsinger, Slamer’s second triple, and a Stautzenberger single.
GAME 2
USW 5, TAMU-T 2
The hosts hit a pair of solo homers and held the Eagles to just five hits in the back half of Friday’s doubleheader. TAMU-T left seven runners on base and stranded runners in scoring position in the second, third, fourth (2), and seventh innings.
Mackenzie Vittitow (6-1) took her first loss of the season, giving up five hits and four earned runs in 2 1/3 inings. Stephanie Chico tossed 1.2 innings of relief, allowing one hit – a solo shot to make it 5-2 — and Westberry finished the final two innings, striking out three while allowing just one hit.
Velasquez drove in both Eagle runs, doubling home Grace Cantu in the second to put the Eagles ahead 1-0 and grounding out in the fourth to bring home Patti Swimley. Slamer doubled, Swimley tripled, and the Eagles stole three bases.
NEXT UP
The Eagles are on the road again next Tuesday for a doubleheader at Texas College in Tyler. The Steers (12-7, 1-5) are currently last in the RRAC East Division.
Tuesday’s action is scheduled to begin at 1 pm.