Blinka, Snedeker homer to lift Jags to sweep of USW in home finale

There's not much sweeter than how Claire Blinka and Allison Snedeker were able to cap their home careers at UHV on Friday.

The duo each homered in a doubleheader sweep of Southwest (13-2, 13-7), including helping roar back from a six-run deficit in Game 2 at the Victoria Youth Sports Complex.

"Coming into today, I just wanted to leave it all on the field," Blinka said. "It's the last time I get to play here. So, I wanted to do everything I could to perform the best for my team and coaches. They've been amazing supporters, and I couldn't have asked for a better ending."

Blinka homered in each game on Friday and both proved to be the difference makers.

The senior from Port Lavaca delivered two go-ahead home runs, including a solo home run in the sixth inning to put the Jaguars (25-19, 17-9) up 7-6 after falling behind 6-0.

Snedeker followed two batters later in Game 2 with a two-run shot to center field to put the Jaguars up 9-6.

"That's just so fun to watch," said head coach Lindsey Ortiz said. "Anytime either of them come up to the plate, you know there could be fireworks. As a former pitcher, I know those girls hate throwing to them, and for good reason. That felt good to see both of them be big time players and make big time plays."

That was part of a stretch of 13 unanswered runs for UHV. Blinka, who's now mashed a team-leading 10 home runs, finished the doubleheader 5-for-8 with four RBIs. She had three in Game 1. She has now hit safely in each of the last five games for UHV.

"I'm just so proud of our team," Snedeker said. "With that six-run deficit, everyone did their jobs, whether it was a walk, taking advantage of errors, finding the holes or good base running. We just worked really hard, including everyone off the bench, and I'm very proud of us."

Production came from throughout the lineup for the Jaguars, though.

In Game 2, Sarah Cortez and Fayth Hoover combined to go 6-for-8 with seven RBIs. Jayce Bolin and Brianna Strother also had RBIs for the Jaguars in Game 1.

Eight different players had hits for UHV on Friday.

"We've talked all year about playing our best ball at this time," Ortiz said. "A lot of our hitters are going up there with the presence that we're asking and having confident at-bats, and choosing good pitches. That's what you want going into the conference tournament. I think they're building off each other. So, I'm excited to see it now and cant wait to see what we do with it."

Hope Quinones earned her ninth win this season after tossing three shutout innings in Game 1, surrendering just four hits while striking out a pair.

But it was Jocelyne Galvan's dominant relief outing in Game 2 which stole the show.

The sophomore from Aransas Pass hurled 2.2 innings of shutout softball behind starter Audrie Sayas, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out a pair.

"I think she looked sharp," Ortiz said. "She had a presence about her that's hard to have in that situation. But that showed a lot of leadership from her today. I'm very proud of her and excited to keep watching her."

UHV next heads to Austin on April 26 to square off with Huston-Tillotson in the regular season finale.