Jags split home opener against St. Thomas

The UHV softball team may have suffered its first loss of the year on Sunday, but it wasn't cause for concern for the Jaguars and head coach Lindsey Ortiz.

The Jaguars beat St. Thomas (TX) 9-1 in five innings in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader before falling 5-4 in Game 2 on Sunday at the Victoria Youth Sports Complex.

Even in the loss, UHV brought the winning run to the plate three separate times with Claire Blinka, Allison Snedeker and Alana Ortega each getting a chance to, at the very least, tie the game.

"We've shown a ton of potential," Ortiz said. "This team is aware of how good they can be. I think we're not executing to our fullest ability at this point. So, as much as I hate a loss, I think it was an important lesson. I think they're bought in and I think they'll work hard to fix those things."

The Jaguars (5-1) rode the hot bat of Kaylle Lopez to a win in Game 1.

The Sinton native went 1-for-3 with a two-run double in the second inning to put UHV up 4-0 at the time. It extended Lopez's hitting streak to five games to open the season.

She had a pair of RBIs in Game 2, as well, moving her into second in the Red River Athletic Conference with 12 on the year. Lopez is hitting .550 through the first six games of the season.

"I could not be as successful as I am without my teammates getting on base," Lopez said. "Seeing them on base lights a fire under me, like, I have to score them. So, I wouldn't be able to do that without them.

Blinka had and identical stat-line and has now hit safely in each of the Jaguars' first six games. Her hitting streak, which extends back into the 2023 season, is now at eight games. She's hit safely in 13 of the last 15 games.

Kenzie Chambers was 4-for-4 with a triple and three runs scored in Game 2. Sarah Cortez also had a strong day at the plate, going 3-for-3 from the bottom of the order.

"Our offense is super dynamic," Ortiz said. "I think we can score in a lot of different way and we continue to put pressure on the opposing team one through nine. That's a lot of fun. That gives them something to really buy into. They know they're never out of it."

Senior pitcher Cameron Cowan improved to 4-0 in the circle after getting the win in Game 1 Sunday. With the win, she now boasts 39 in her UHV career.

The right-hander from Shiner threw another complete game, allowing one run on two hits and a walk. Of the 15 outs she recorded, only one came via a strikeout.

"I know I get a lot of popups because of the spin that I have," Cowan said. "So, every game, that's my goal – get some easy work for our defense and if the strikeouts come, the strikeouts come. But I need my defense no matter what."

The Jaguars will continue their homestand with their RRAC opening doubleheader against University of the Southwest at 1 p.m. Friday.