Unbeaten Eagles knock off two ranked opponents

GULF SHORES, Ala. — The streak continues. It’s now 14 straight for the red-hot Texas A&M University-texarkana Eagles softball team.

The Eagles (14-0) knocked off a pair of ranked teams Saturday in the Gulf Shores Invitational tournament on the University of Mobile diamond.

TAMU-T edged fourthranked Southeastern University (Lakeland, Florida), 2-1, and 16th-ranked Columbia College (Columbia, Missouri), 6-5, in second-day action in the Gulf Shores event.

Against the No. rated 4 Fire, the Eagles scored their only runs in the first inning, grouping three singles and a leadoff walk into a 2-0 lead. Grace Cantu and Macie Reeves had run-scoring singles.

Cantu was 3-for-3 and scored a run, and Patti Swimley, Sarah Velasquez and Molly Harrison had hits.

TAMU-T ace Anna Westberry, a sophomore, did the rest, holding Southeastern to one run (unearned) off 4 hits. The 7-0 southpaw struck out 2 and walked 2. She hit three batters.

In the second game against Columbia, the Eagles scored 4 runs in the sixth inning to erase a 3-1 deficit.

Macey Cutsinger belted a 2-run double to give TAMU-T a 5-3 lead. Columbia scored one run in the seventh, but the Eagles shut them down to escape with the win.

Swimley had a pair of hits to lead her team. Other Eagle hits were by Baylee Stautenberger, Sarah Velasquez, Cantu and Harrison.

Mackenzie Vittitow (4-0) was the winning pitcher, relieving starter Stephanie Chico in the fifth with one out. Vittitow alloed a run and 3 hits in 2 2/3 innings of work.

The Eagles will face Campbellsville (Kentucky) at 11:15 a.m. today in their final game of the tournament.

TAMU-T SWEEP PAIR

TEXARKANA, Texas — Texas A&M University-texarkana romped to a pair of lopsided victories over Texas College Saturday, winning 10-1 and 20-0, at Dobson Field.

The Eagles improve to 8-10 with the doubleheader sweep. Those same two teams will close out the 3-game series with a single game today starting at 1 p.m.

TAMU-T blasted 9 hits in the opener, including four for extra bases. Masashi Takegama smacked a 2-run home run and 3-run double, Kyle Mcmullen a solo homer and Eric Spencer a double.

Brandon Riley had 2 hits and 2 RBI, Pudge Carlisle added 2 hits and Luyke Hyzdu a hit and 2 RBI for the hosts.

Oscar Sanchez (1-0) got the winning, pitching 2 innings of shut-out ball.

In the second game, the Eagles dominated by outhitting the visitors 18-3. Eight players had at least 1 hit, and 10 were for extra bases.

Marzavin Riles led the offensive onslaught with 3 hits, including a 3-run home run, to knock in a team-high 6 runs. Other leading hitters included Giancarlo Mijares was 4-for-4, including two doubles, with 2 RBI and 3 scored runs; Jonathan Rios was 3-for-4, including a pair of doubles, with 4 RBI and 3 runs scored; and Brandon Riley had a pair of triples to drive in 2 runs.

Hunter Reid also had a pair of double and Josiah Taylor added a triple.

Collin Fenili got the win, pitching 2 innings of hitless ball.