Jags sweep Wildcats behind dominant pitching, timely hitting

Hope Quinones set the tone for the UHV softball team on Friday.

The graduate senior hurled a complete-game shutout in a 5-0 win over Louisiana Christian which also spurred the Jaguars to a 3-2 win to complete the doubleheader sweep of the Wildcats at the Victoria Youth Sports Complex.

It was the second shutout this season for the San Antonio native, who earned her seventh win this season, and helped the Jaguars (21-19, 13-9) snap a six-game losing streak.

"It felt really good," Quinones said. "We've been doing a lot of work in practice, trying to bounce back from the last couple of games. We played some really tough competition, so I think we learned a lot from that. Plus, it's easy to pitch when your defense plays shut-down like it was today."

Between the two games, UHV's defense worked to strand 20 batters from LCU (20-20, 9-13).

Jocelyne Galvan followed Quinones' lead, hurling her first complete game of the season to improve to 5-1 in the circle with the win in Game 2. With the two wins, UHV has now won each of its last seven meetings with the Wildcats.

"I love seeing that from her," said head coach Lindsey Ortiz of Galvan. "I think Hope did great today. Keira Reis and Audrie Sayas have put in some great innings lately, too. Now that we're getting into the meat of conference and into the tournament, we're going to be able to rely on matchups and who matches up best instead of just having a No. 1 who's always going to throw. I think that's a good advantage to have."

Claire Blinka went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a triple in Game 2 on Friday, tying Ashley Winegeart's career record for Multi-Hit games (53) from 2011-14.

But it was production from the bottom of the lineup which powered the Jaguars to the sweep.

Senior Jayce Bolin, hitting in the nine-hole, went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, an RBI and a pair of runs scored. Her RBI sparked a two-run second inning in Game 2 which proved to be the difference for UHV.

The bottom third of UHV's order had six hits and a pair of RBIs between the two games.

"I could feel my teammates every time I went up to hit," Bolin said. "They always have my back. So that helps me and my confidence a lot to be able to perform with them by my side."

It was also important for the bats to step up with 2024 NAIA First Team All-American Kenzie Chambers out injured for Friday's doubleheader.

"That's big in two ways," Ortiz said. "I think that's big for Jayce because she's been clawing and fighting and doing everything she can to work her way into the lineup; so to see her shine is awesome. But for the team's sake, that makes a huge difference. Obviously we had a change today due to injury and she made that transition so much easier by going out there and executing."

The Jaguars host Xavier (La.) in a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday as well as senior day where Blinka, Bolin, Quinones, Chambers, Jordan Jones, Celeste Lara, Allison Snedeker, VeJeigh Zamora and Alexi Wade will be recognized following the second game.