A&M-Victoria softball erupts for double-digits in win over USW

HOBBS, N.M. — The Texas A&M University–Victoria softball team erased an early deficit and rolled to a 16-8 victory over the University of the Southwest on Friday afternoon at Baker Field, piling up 19 hits and pulling away with a decisive late surge.

The Jaguars (18-10, 9-4) answered a four-run first inning by Southwest with eight runs over the first two frames and never relinquished control. A&M-Victoria added five runs in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh to turn a tight game into a run-rule margin. Southwest fell to 4-18 overall and 2-10 in conference play.

After Southwest jumped out in front behind four consecutive hits in the bottom of the first, A&M-Victoria's offense responded with depth and patience, scoring in six of seven innings and drawing four walks to go with aggressive base running.

Key Moments

A&M-Victoria's defining stretch came in the top of the second inning, when the Jaguars sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs to take an 8-4 lead. The inning featured RBI hits from Khamryn Werdlow, Alyssa Carter, Angelina Morales, Kitty Coe and Deeandra Maldonado, with Maldonado's run coming after an error extended the inning.

Southwest briefly closed the gap to 8-7 by the end of the second, but the Jaguars regained momentum in the third when Morales delivered an RBI single to push the lead to 9-7.

The game broke open in the sixth. A&M-Victoria scored five runs despite recording only two hits in the inning, capitalizing on three walks and a wild pitch to stretch the lead to 14-7. Emily Mayo drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, while Alysa Perez added an RBI groundout.

The Jaguars sealed the outcome in the seventh as Carter scored on a wild pitch and Maldonado added her third RBI of the day with a single up the middle. Southwest pushed across one run in the bottom half, but a double play ended the contest.

Top Performers

Morales led A&M-Victoria at the plate with a perfect 5-for-5 performance, driving in four runs and scoring four times. Carter matched her with a 4-for-4 day, scoring four runs and knocking in two, while adding a double, a triple and a stolen base.

Maldonado finished with two hits and three RBIs, and Coe went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Mayo chipped in an RBI and scored once.

In the circle, Zoe Hardy earned the win after working 6.2 innings in relief. She allowed nine hits and four runs while striking out 10. Haley Noska started the game before Hardy settled things down after the first inning.

Next up

The Jaguars and Mustangs wrap up their three-game series with a doubleheader at 12 p.m. CT/11 a.m. MT on Saturday. Game 2 of the series was moved from Friday to Saturday.