LAREDO, Texas – The No. 9 Angelo State softball team hit nine home runs to sweep Texas A&M International in a doubleheader on Monday afternoon in Laredo.
The Rambelles (38-6, 20-4 LSC) combined for 32 hits and 31 runs in the two game sweep. ASU had 16 extra base hits. The five home runs in game two of the doubleheader is the second most in a single game in ASU history. The Rambelles also recorded their 16th shutout of the season. The Dustdevils fell to 21-30 on the year.
"When you are able to hit nine home runs that is a good day offensively," Angelo State head softball coach Travis Scott said. "I was really excited with what we did in the batter's box and we hit a lot of balls hard. Brandy Marlett was sharp in game two. We were able to play defense and hit some balls hard. It was nice to come away with two wins from a hot Texas A&M International team who have been on a roll."
Game one started with a pair of home runs in the first inning. Courtney Barnhill and Taylor Fogle each hit two-run home runs to give ASU a 4-0 advantage.
Texas A&M International got a run back in the bottom of the first but Bailey Wallace extended the lead in the top of the third. The junior crushed a pitch to left field for her fourth of the season to make it 5-1.
The Dustdevlis cut into the lead in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run home run cut the lead to 5-3.
The Rambelles took advantage of two Texas A&M International errors to score five. Three straight hits started the inning with Taegan Kirk, Danae Bina, Fogle and Amanda Ramage all recording RBIs in the inning. Madison Greenwell reached on an error by the shortstop to score Ramage for an 11-3 lead.
Megan Hill came in relief for Morgan Hill after the senior pitched 4.0 innings striking out three batters. She gave up three runs on seven hits.
The Dustdevils were able to score one in the bottom of the fifth but ASU got it back in the top of the sixth off the bat of Fogle. The junior crushed a pitch over the left field wall for her second home run of the game. Fogle also tallied a game-high six RBIs.
TAMIU wouldn't go away scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 14-8.
Greenwell tripled to right field to lead off the seventh and scored on a Barnhill fielder's choice to go up 15-8. The Dustdevils would score three in the bottom of the inning but Maykayla Corbin got a grounder and a fly ball to left field to end the game at 15-11.
Morgan Hill picked up her 18th win of the season.
The long ball was a highlight for Angelo State in the series finale. Barnhill, Kirk and Karina Rocha all homered in the top of the first inning. Barnhill and Kirk hit back-to-back blasts for the third time this season and Rocha hit her 14th of the season to make it 5-0 after one inning.
Brandy Marlett would shut down the Dustdevils. The senior gave up a leadoff single and after that sat down 11 straight. She would only give up one hit and face three over the minimum.
Fogle joined game two's home run fest with a two-run blast in the third inning to increase the lead to 7-0.
ASU opened it up with nine runs in the sixth inning. Barnhill hit a two-RBI triple and was brought home by a Kirk RBI single to center. Fogle hit her second home run of the game and fourth of the day to make it 12-0. Danae Bina sent a ball to the left center gap for a RBI double and Mykayla Stroud scored on a wild pitch. Wallace was credited with the last RBI with a double to center field for the final of 16-0.
Marlett earned her 18th win of the season throwing a complete game on-hitter. She struck out three and is now tied for the ASU career lead in victories with Kari Galm at 84 victories.
The Rambelles will head to Commerce this weekend for a pivotal three-game LSC series starting on Friday, April 20 at 7 p.m.
