(RV) A&M-Victoria softball downs Bethel (TN) to close Gulf Coast Invitational

GULF SHORES, Ala. – The Texas A&M University-Victoria softball team used an aggressive second-inning rally and steady pitching to close out the Gulf Coast Invitational with a win on Sunday.

The Jaguars secured a 4-2 victory over Bethel (TN) after a rain delay led to the cancellation of the originally scheduled game against St. Ambrose (IA).

A&M-Victoria improved to 14-6 with the win, scoring all four of their runs in a single inning before relying on their pitching staff to hold off a midgame push from the Wildcats.

Key Moments

A&M-Victoria broke the game open in the bottom of the second inning, capitalizing on small-ball execution and timely hitting to plate four runs.

After Deeandra Maldonado worked a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Emily Mayo, Fayth Hoover lined a single down the left-field line to put runners on the corners. Daizie Fuentez then laid down a bunt single that brought Maldonado home to give the Jaguars a 1-0 lead.

The Jaguars kept the pressure on as Khamryn Werdlow followed with another bunt single, allowing Hoover to score and pushing the lead to 2-0. With runners advancing into scoring position, Alyssa Carter delivered the biggest hit of the inning. The third baseman drove a double down the right-field line that scored both Fuentez and Werdlow, stretching the Jaguars' advantage to 4-0.

Bethel answered in the fourth inning. Consecutive singles by Kinsley Nichols and Amelia Sherrill put runners on base before Riley Sharp lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home the Wildcats' first run. Chanley Price followed with an RBI single through the right side, trimming the deficit to 4-2.

From there, the Jaguars' pitching staff kept Bethel from completing the comeback. Starter Zoe Hardy worked through five innings while limiting the Wildcats to two runs, escaping additional threats in the middle innings.

Reliever Haley Noska entered in the sixth and preserved the lead with two scoreless innings. Bethel threatened in the seventh with a hit batter and a single to put two runners aboard, but Noska induced a flyout and a groundout to end the game and seal the victory.

Top Performers

Carter led the Jaguars offensively, finishing 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs. Her two-run double in the second inning proved to be the decisive hit and accounted for the eventual winning margin.

Fuentez and Werdlow also played key roles in the Jaguars' offensive burst. Each recorded an RBI bunt single during the four-run second inning and later came around to score as A&M–Victoria built its early cushion.

Hoover added a 1-for-2 performance at the plate and scored a run after igniting the rally with a single that moved Maldonado into scoring position.

In the circle, Hardy improved to 7-2 on the season. The right-hander allowed six hits and two runs across five innings while walking one and striking out one.

Noska closed out the win with two shutout innings in relief, allowing just one hit while striking out one to record her first save of the season.

Next Up

The Jaguars resume Red River Athletic Conference play Friday and Saturday with a trip to No. 9-ranked Our Lady of the Lake in San Antonio. The first three games of the four-game series are RRAC games.