COMMERCE, Texas – The No. 6 Angelo State softball team took the first two game of its LSC series with No. 14 Texas A&M-Commerce by scores of 2-0 and 6-5 in Commerce on Friday evening.
The Rambelles improve to 40-6 and 22-4 in the LSC with the pair of victories. ASU scored eight runs in the doubleheader with 10 hits. The Lions fall to 35-7 and 20-6 in the LSC.
"It was some of the top softball in the LSC and Division II played," Angelo State head softball coach Travis Scott said. "Both teams played great defense with great hitters and pitchers. For us to come out on the road and get two wins against a really good team is something that is pretty special."
The first game of the doubleheader was a pitching duel through the first five innings between Brandy Marlett and Emily Otto.
The Lions put runners in scoring position in the first third and fourth but each time Marlett was able to work out of the jam. She only allowed four hits through the first five innings.
The Rambelles loaded the bases in the top of the second with only one out but couldn't push across a run.
It wasn't until the top of the fifth that ASU came through with a run with two outs. Madison Greenwell singled and immediately stole second. Mariah Jameyson made an errant throw and Greenwell scampered to third. Bailey Wallace singled through the left side to make it 1-0.
"Brandy Marlett was huge tonight," Scott said. "She had good movement and good velocity. She was really clutch."
The Lions put the leadoff runner in the first but Taegan Kirk threw out the runner trying to steal second and Marlett got a fly ball and a strikeout to end the fifth.
Karina Rocha highlighted the sixth inning with a solo home run down the left field line. It is the sophomore's 15th home run of the season.
Marlett finished the game off striking out 11 to surpass 800 strikeouts in her career. The senior became ASU's career leader in strikeouts last season. She also picked up her 19th win of the season and became ASU's all-time career leader in wins in the circle with 85. The Nevada native only allowed five hits in 7.0 innings pitched.
Game two started with the Rambelles taking a quick lead in the top of the first. Kirk hit a double to left center to score Wallace and Courtney Barnhill for a 2-0 lead.
Brooke Mangold crushed a ball to left field for her first home run of the season to put ASU on top 3-0.
Texas A&M-Commerce got a run back in the bottom of the inning but the Rambelles answered in a big way in the third.
With two outs, Taylor Fogle sent a pitch over the left field fence. After a walk from Rocha, Danae Bina followed Fogle with a ball over the left field fence for a two-run home run. It is Fogle's eighth and Bina's second of the season.
Morgan Hill kept the Lions off the board in the third and fourth but gave up one in the sixth.
Leading 6-2 the potent TAMUC lineup recorded three hits with two home runs off Hill to cut the deficit to 6-5. Marlett came in relief after the second home run and got a strikeout and grounder to end the inning.
The senior would complete the save stranding the tying run on second base. Hill picked up her 19th win of the season while Marlett earned her second save of the year.
"The defense played by both teams was phenomenal tonight," Scott said. "Brooke Mangold made a huge catch on a dead sprint and turned around to double up the girl on second in game one. Texas A&M-Commerce made a great catch into the fence. It was some incredible defense and it was fun to watch."
The series finale is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. tomorrow in Commerce.
