Jaguars split with No. 13 Texas A&M-Texarkana

TEXARKANA, Texas – Texas A&M University–San Antonio claimed its biggest win in program history Friday as the Jaguars split a doubleheader with No. 13 Texas A&M–Texarkana.

In what was also the longest game in program history, the Jaguars used an 11th-inning rally to defeat A&M–Texarkana 6-4 in the opener before the Eagles took the second game by a score of 11-3.

The host Eagles (35-9, 19-5 RRAC) were ranked No. 13 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Top 25 poll of NAIA teams that was released Wednesday. In taking game one from Texarkana, the Jaguars (21-24, 14-10 RRAC) defeated a team ranked in any organization's Top 25 poll for the first time in their history.

A&M–San Antonio's road trip continues Saturday when the Jaguars head to LSU–Alexandria. First pitch is scheduled for noon.

GAME ONE: Jaguars 6, Texas A&M–Texarkana 4

The regulation seven innings and two extra innings without the use of the international tiebreaker rule were not enough to decide the opening game in the battle of the Red River Athletic Conference's Texas A&M University campuses.

The Jaguars used their speed on the basepaths in the top of the 11th inning to turn potential outs into baserunners and kept their rally alive. With two on and one out, Julia Pinzon (San Antonio, Texas / Madison) started the scoring with a sacrifice bunt that scored Andrea Ortiz (Mission, Texas / Sharyland) from third base. The attempt to get Ortiz at the plate failed and Pinzon took second on the play, again giving the Jags runners in scoring position with one out.

Vanessa Garces (Edinburg, Texas / Coastal Bend College) then knocked a groundball that in which the Eagles again failed to get the lead runner. Peyton Vasquez (Porter, Texas / Cisco College) scored on Garces' RBI and stretched TAMUSA's lead to 4-2.

After a passed ball allowed Garces to move to second and Pinzon to score from third, Britney Garcia (Weslaco, Texas / Coastal Bend College) knocked an RBI single to to score Garces and give the Jaguars a 6-2 lead.

When Texarkana came to bat, their first batter singled to give them two runners on base. The next batter, Laura Dyer, then hit an RBI triple to cut TAMUSA's lead in half.

Momentum appeared to shift to the Eagles' side, but it just as quickly shifted again toward the Jaguars on the next batter. Macie Reeves hit a line drive right to third baseman Ortiz, who was able to tag Dyer and empty the bases while the Jaguars still held a 6-4 lead.

TAMUSA pitcher Ebbie Rodriguez (Helotes, Texas / Angelina College) then induced a popup to end the game and give the Jaguars their biggest win road win in program history. Rodriguez tossed all 11 innings, a program record, while allowing just two earned runs.

A&M–Texarkana pitcher Anna Westberry took the loss. Her 18-2 record entering the game was the best record by an opposing pitcher to start a game the Jaguars eventually won.

GAME TWO: Texas A&M–Texarkana 11, Jaguars 3

The Eagles responded to the setback by scoring the first four runs and last four runs to win game two in six innings.

Sidney Garza (San Antonio, Texas / Ranger College) and Karissa Guzman (Edinburg, Texas / Vela) knocked RBIs for the Jaguars in the fourth inning. Caty Rangel (Austin, Texas / Ranger College) added an RBI fielder's choice in the fifth inning.

Melissa Gonzalez (San Antonio, Texas / Texas Southern) collected two hits in the game.