Follow @HCUSoftball
CORPUS CHRISTI —- Houston Christian University started off Southland Conference play with a splash on Thursday afternoon, taking a pair of games from rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 1-0 and 4-3 at Chapman Field.

Katy Janes tossed her first career no-hitter in the opener, while Haylie Savage posted her first career four-hit game in second to complete the doubleheader sweep.


GAME 1

It was all Janes in the opener, as she faced just two over the minimum and struck out five, issuing just a one-out walk in the third and a leadoff pass in the sixth.

The Huskies got the lone tally of the contest in the top of the third. Hadlee Tomczak started the inning with a walk and moved to second on a bunt single by Avery Drake. 

AB Garcia grounded into a fielders choice that erased Tomczak at third, but Hailey Savage would follow with a double to right to score Drake for the 1-0 lead.

That would be all Janes needed on this day, as she mowed through the Islanders quickly and efficiently to even her ledger at 5-5 on the season.

It is the 32nd no-hitter in school history, and the first since Jessica Patak held Sam Houston State hitless on April 2, 2021.

Savage went 1-3 with an RBI and Drake went 1-3 with a the run scored.

Primrose Aholelei (8-7) took the loss for TAMUCC, scattering four hits and fanning five.


GAME 2

The Islanders would jump on the board first in game two, putting three hits together to plate a single run in the 2nd, capped by an RBI single by Rhea-Ann Avalos.

HCU would knot things up in the third. Riley Martin reached on an error and went to second base, then advanced to third on a sac bunt by Drake. AB Garcia then hit into a fielders choice which forced Martin at home. Garcia then stole second and came around to score on an RBI single to right field by Savage.

In the fourth, Corpus would nudge forward again. Taniece Tyson led off with a double and was followed by an RBI double by Monee Montilla to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead.

The Huskies would put together three hits and a TAMUCC error to plate two runs and take the lead for good in the fifth. With one out, Avery Drake singled and AB Garcia singled on a bunt. When the throw to first went down the right field line, Drake raced all the way around to score and Garcia ended up at third.

After a bunt single by Savage put runners on the corners, Jasie Roberts followed with a fielders choice to force Savage at second and allow Garcia to come across the dish with a 3-1 cushion. 

The Huskies pushed across an all-important insurance run in the top of the seventh. Garcia led off with a bunt single and after stealing second, was pushed to third on a sacrifice bunt by Savage. Roberts followed with a groundout to the pitcher, as Garcia took off from third on the throw to first and gave HCU a 4-2 lead.

TAMUCC mounted a last rally in the seventh, scoring as three of the first four hitters reached on base hits, the final by Tyson which scored Sidney Campion to make the score 4-3, but the Islanders stranded two runners to end the game. 

Savage went 3-3 with an RBI for the Huskies, capping off a 4-6 day at the plate. Garcia was 2-4 with three runs scored and two stolen bases, while Roberts had 2 RBI. 

Lyndie Swanson scattered 11 hits and three runs in the complete game for HCU. She walked none and struck out three in improving to 4-5 on the season.

Sydney Hoyt (2-2) took the loss for TAMUCC, going 5.2 innings and giving up seven hits and three runs. Tyson went 3-4 with two runs and an RBI to pace the 11-hit offense. 

—-

NEXT UP:

HCU (11-15, 2-0 SLC) and TAMUCC (12-11, 0-2 SLC) will close out the three-game series on Friday.

NOTE (Friday, 10:45 am):  Due to weather and field conditions, time and location for the final game have changed. First pitch is now scheduled for 2 pm at Cabaniss Athletic Complex in Corpus Christi.