SAN ANGELO – The No. 2 Angelo State softball team won three games on the first day of the ASU George & Ola McCorkle Challenge by beating Florida Tech 4-0 and Texas A&M International 5-4 and 10-0.
The Rambelles improved to 7-1 on the year scoring 19 runs on 24 hits in three games. ASU drove in a combined 17 RBIs and only allowed four runs.
The first game of the day was a pitching duel between Morgan Hill and Melanie Murphy of Florida Tech. Hill held Florida Tech to just two hits through the first four innings. The Panthers threatened in the third after a leadoff walk. A stolen base and a ground out had a runner at third. Hill got a fly out for the third out.
The Rambelles struggled through four innings only recording a double by Karina Rocha in the second. Rocha started the fifth with a leadoff walk and was lifted for pinch runner Megan Gordon. Mykayla Stroud put down a bunt but Murphy over threw the first baseman to allow Gordon to score from first. Taylor Fogle made it 2-0 with a single through the left side outside the reach of a diving shortstop.
Hill allowed two hits in the top of the sixth but zero runs and ASU responded with a pair of insurance runs. Courtney Barnhill hit a leadoff double down the left field line and Danae Bina was able to use her speed for a bunt single. Taegan Kirk brought them both home with a double to the left center gap.
Hill finished the game off for her third victory of the season. She scattered six hits and struck out five in her first shut out of the year.
In game two of the day, ASU was down 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Madison Greenwell and Bailey Wallace hit back-to-back singles with just one out. Courtney Barnhill turned the game around with a home run to right center to five the advantage back to Angelo State. It is the sophomore's second homer of the season.
Marlett, who got the start limited the Dustdevils to just one hit over the final two innings to earn her third victory of the season.
Bina gave ASU the early 1-0 lead after she reached on a walk. Fogle hit a ball over the left fielder head that hit the bottom of the fence for the RBI.
The Dustdevils tied the game up scoring on a throwing error in the top of the fourth. Rocha quickly gave the lead back to ASU with a solo home run down the right field line for her third home run of the season.
Texas A&M International was able to score three runs on three this off Marlett for a 4-2 lead before Barnhill's home run in the bottom of the fifth.
The Rambelles offense was on fire in the night cap against Texas A&M International. The first five batter's all reached with four coming by way of hits. Greenwell and Wallace hit back-to-back doubles and an error by the TAMIU shortstop made it 2-0. Rocha got the crowd on their feet with deep three-run home run to right center.
Up 5-0, the runs continued in the second. Greenwell and Wallace had back-to-back hits again and Kirk hit a RBI double to right center. Rocha found her pitch again with a two-run home run to right field to push the advantage to 9-0.
Rocha recorded her sixth RBI of the game with a double to left center. The six RBIs are the second most in a single game in ASU history tied with numerous others.
Morgan Hill would get the start and hold the Dustdevils to just one hit through the 3.1 innings. She passed the ball off to her sister in the fourth and Meagan Hill was effective. The freshman struck out three batters in 1.1 innings of work before Makayla Corbin came in for the final out. Hill improved to 4-1 on the season.
The Rambelles return to the field at 12:15 p.m. against Florida Tech followed by a game versus Adams State at 2:15 p.m.
