SAN ANGELO – The No. 2 Angelo State softball team improved to 9-1 on the season after a 3-0 shutout of Florida and a 10-2 run-rule victory over Texas A&M International.
The Rambelles improved to 9-1 on the year combing to score 13 runs off 15 hits. Taegan Kirk and Danae Bina each hit home runs while Kirk drove in five runs and scored three on the day. The Hill sisters each earned victories in the circle as well.
The first game between ASU and Florida Tech was another pitching duel like the night before. The Panthers threatened in the first but starting pitcher Brandy Marlett struck out Alexus Smith with the bases loaded.
The Rambelles had runners in scoring position in the first and second but were unable to produce runs.
Morgan Hill came in relief in the third inning after Marlett put the first two runners on. The senior got a fly out to center field and right field for the first two outs. The final out came as Kirk threw down to second trying to catch a FIT player with a big lead. Danae Bina cut off the throw and sent it home as Kirk applied the tag for the third out.
Kirk had a hand in the ASU offense in the third. Bailey Wallace singled and Karina Rocha drew a walk to put two runners on with two outs. The junior had a 1-2 count and turned on a pitch that went over the left field wall for a three-run home run. It is Kirk's first home run of the season and the only runs ASU would score in the game.
Florida Tech looked to answer in the fourth with the bases loaded. Hill got FIT's left fielder to fly out for the final out of the inning. She wouldn't allow a baserunner the rest of the way on the way to her fifth win of the season. She struck out five in 4.2 of an inning and only gave up two hits.
The runs came early in the second game against Texas A&M International. Karina Rocha hit a RBI double to score Madison Greenwell from second for the first run of the game. Rocha scored on a RBI single from Kirk to make it 2-0. Bina would clear the bases with her first home run of the season to make it 4-0 after one inning.
Four more runs were added in the second. Rocha once again added runs to the board with a RBI double down the left field line scored Megan Gordon. Kirk duplicated the first inning with a RBI single through the left side and Taylor Fogle roped a double down the left field line to score two runs for the 8-0 advantage.
It would be all that Meagan Hill would get in her first career start. The freshman held the Dustdevils to just two runs on six hits in five innings of work. She struck out three and didn't allow a walk.
With two outs in the fourth, Mylonee Becerra drew a walk to keep the inning alive. Bina followed her by recording her third RBI of the game with a double down the left field line.
Heather Reatherford ended the game in the fifth with a ground rule double to enforce the eight run lead after five innings run rule.
The Rambelles will face Texas A&M International in the finale of the ASU George & Ola McCorkle Challenge at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
