Jaguars split evening doubleheader with Xavier (La.)

SAN ANTONIO – Texas A&M University–San Antonio's softball team split its third consecutive Red River Athletic Conference doubleheader in seven days Friday as they took game one from Xavier (La.).

The Jaguars (9-15, 5-3 RRAC) took game one by a score of 5-2 before Xavier stunned their hosts 4-1 in the nightcap.

Friday's doubleheader was a matchup of two softball teams in their second year of varsity status. Xavier's (8-15, 4-2 RRAC) athletic teams joined the RRAC in time for the 2021-22 academic year.

More program history was made by the Jaguars as Peyton Vasquez (Porter, Texas / Cisco College) hit safely in both games to stretch her consecutive-game hitting streak to nine games, a new team record.

The Jaguars return to action Saturday when they host Louisiana Christian. The Wildcats (15-8, 4-0) are in their first season back in the NAIA after 20 seasons in the NCAA's Division III and sit atop the RRAC's East Division standings.

GAME ONE: Jaguars 5, Xavier 2

Vasquez (pictured) and Julia Pinzon (San Antonio, Texas / Madison) accounted for the bulk of TAMUSA's offense as the Jaguars won their second consecutive game.

Pinzon accounted for all four RBIs credited to the Jaguars, going 2-for-4 in the opening contest. Vasquez, who went 4-for-4 and stole three bases, scored two of those runs; she also scored a run on a throwing error by Xavier's catcher after taking third base on a wild pitch in the fourth inning.

Ebbie Rodriguez (Helotes, Texas / Angelina College) pitched the final five innings for the Jaguars as she claimed her second win in as many contests. The visiting Gold Nuggets simply could not figure Rodriguez out with any consistency, as she allowed only two hits and one walk during her five innings pitched.

Vanessa Garces (Edinburg, Texas / Coastal Bend College) went 2-for-3 and scored a run in the game, while Sidney Garza (San Antonio, Texas / Ranger College) and Karina Guzman (Edinburg, Texas / Vela HS) added base hits for the Jaguars.

GAME TWO: Xavier 4, Jaguars 1 (Box Score)

Xavier's Destyn Jones quieted the Jaguar bats in the second game as the Gold Nuggets salvaged a doubleheader split.

The team's third baseman in game one, Jones tossed a complete game while allowing only four hits and two walks while striking out three batters.

Xavier took advantage of a key error early in the fourth inning that put two runners on base with no outs; Shay Angelle, who went 3-for-3 in the game, knocked home the game-winning run in the next at-bat. The Nuggets would score twice more in the inning.

The Jaguars tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning when, with Garces on third base and Madeline Arellano (Georgetown, Texas / Ranger College) on second, Gabby Mitchell (San Antonio, Texas / Texas A&M International) hit a two-out single to score Garces. Arellano was also sent home, but a perfect throw Xavier centerfielder Madison Winston to catcher McKenzie Guillory prevented a second run and ended the inning.

Bethany Garrett (Georgetown, Texas / East View HS) tossed four innings of shutout relief and struck out two batters and giving up only two hits for the Jaguars.