Jaguars pummel Langston for program's first run-rule victory

OKLAHOMA CITY – Texas A&M University–San Antonio's softball team claimed more program firsts Thursday as the Jaguars opened the Langston University's Hosea Bell Memorial Red Dirt Classic with an 11-1, six-inning win over the host team.

The Jaguars (6-7) couldn't have asked for a better setting for their first-ever run-rule victory ending in fewer than the required seven innings. The game was played at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium – OGE Energy Field, the main competition field at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex.

Sophomore first baseman Melissa Gonzalez (San Antonio, Texas / Texas Southern) became the first player in team history to knock four hits in a single game, leading the Jaguar bats with a 4-for-4 showing and three RBIs. Gabby Mitchell (San Antonio, Texas / Texas A&M International) and Britney Garcia (Weslaco, Texas / Coastal Bend College) each went 3-for-4 with two RBIs; Mitchell scored three runs and tallied a double.

Freshman pitcher Bethany Garrett (Georgetown, Texas / East View HS) turned in her best start of the season against the Lions, tossing three shutout innings and striking out four batters. Ryanne Limon (San Antonio, Texas / Smithson Valley HS) pitched the final three innings for the Jaguars, striking out three batters and earning the win in relief for the Jaguars.

The Jaguars got all they needed in the second inning as Madeline Arellano (Georgetown, Texas / Ranger College) and Felicity Alamillo (San Antonio, Texas / Coastal Bend College) knocked consecutive RBI singles with two outs to take an early 2-0 lead.

A&M–San Antonio stretched its lead from three runs to five runs in the fifth inning when Garcia hit a two-RBI single that scored Mitchell and Sidney Garza (San Antonio, Texas / Ranger College).

Mitchell and Gonzalez continued to vex Langston pitching with back-to-back, 2-RBI hits in the top of the sixth to stretch the Jaguars' lead to 9-1. A&M–San Antonio added more insurance runs later in the inning when Peyton Vasquez (Porter, Texas / Cisco College) knocked an infield RBI single with the bases loaded – one of her three hits in the game – which was then followed by a wild pitch allowing Garcia to score.

The game marked the second time in as many seasons the Jaguars faced Langston at OGE Energy Field. Last season, the Jaguars won 5-1 in nine innings with Limon also picking up the victory in that game as she tossed a complete game and didn't allow a single earned run.

In this season's more comfortable win over the Lions, the Jaguars also knocked a program-record 17 hits in the game.