Jaguars open Red River Athletic Conference play with doubleheader sweep of Huston-Tillotson

SAN ANTONIO – The Jaguars of Texas A&M University–San Antonio achieved some notable program firsts Monday as they swept visiting Huston-Tillotson in a doubleheader to open Red River Athletic Conference.

A&M–San Antonio had to overcome deficits in each game but ultimately prevailed 3-2 in the opening game before claiming the sweep with a 5-4 win in the late contest.

After waiting more than a week to return to the diamond due to cold weather in Central Texas, the Jaguars (5-7) ran their winning streak to a program-best four games with the sweep of Huston-Tillotson. At 2-0 in RRAC play, the Jaguars are above .500 in the league standings for the first time in program history.

The Jaguars head north for their next four games at Langston University's Red Dirt Classic, which will be held at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City. A&M–San Antonio begins play at the event Thursday, March 3, when the Jaguars face host Langston in the complex's main stadium, OGE Energy Field, which has previously hosted the USA Softball International Cup tournaments.

GAME ONE: Jaguars 3, Huston-Tillotson 2

After failing to score in their first four innings and falling behind 2-0, the Jaguars turned the proverbial tables on Huston-Tillotson, scoring three unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth en route to the victory.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the inning, Caty Rangel (Austin, Texas / Ranger College) came to bat in a pinch-hitting appearance and drew an eight-pitch walk that allowed Peyton Vasquez (Porter, Texas / Cisco College) to cross the plate and cut HT's lead to 2-1. Though she had two hits in the game, Vasquez had reached base in the fifth on a dropped fly ball to help spark the rally.

The Jaguars then took the lead one batter later when Gabby Mitchell (San Antonio, Texas / Texas A&M International) drilled a two-RBI single to center field that sent Andrea Ortiz (Mission, Texas / Sharyland Pioneer HS) and Julia Pinzon (San Antonio, Texas / Madison HS) across the plate with the tying and go-ahead runs.

Ryanne Limon (San Antonio, Texas / Smithson Valley HS) pitched three innings of relief and allowed only three hits to pick up the victory and improve to 2-2 for the season.

GAME TWO: Jaguars 5, Huston-Tillotson 4

The Jaguars erased a 3-1 deficit with two runs in the bottom of the third and scored two more in the fifth to take control of game two.

Britney Garcia (Weslaco, Texas / Coastal Bend College) knocked a triple in the bottom of the fifth to score Melissa Gonzalez (San Antonio, Texas / Texas Southern) from first base. After an HT pitching change, Karina Guzman (Edinburg, Texas / Vela) gave the Jaguars an insurance run when she singled home Garcia.

Guzman started the game as A&M–San Antonio's designated player and moved to the pitcher's circle where she tossed the final four innings and scattered four hits while giving up only an unearned run in the seventh. Her win in relief improved her season record to 2-1.

Rangel had three hits and two RBIs in game two, while Gonzalez, Vasquez, and Pinzon knocked two base hits apiece.