Falcons stun Aggies in key LSC game

ODESSA, Texas—UT-Permian Basin found just enough offense Saturday to hand Cameron’s softball team a tough 3-2 setback that will send the Aggies into a play-in game when the Lone Star Conference begins this week at West Texas A&M in Canyon.

The Aggies had dominated the first two games Friday but despite taking a 2-0 lead after the third inning they were unable to stop a 3-run rally as pitcher Jocelyn Bright hit a batter and then walked a second one to set the table for the rally. After a strikeout, an infield error allowed the two runners to reach scoring position and load the bags.

CU Coach Emma Johansen turned to Stormee Reed to douse the fire but she gave up a 3-run double that cleared the bases. Reed fanned the next two batters to stop the bleeding.

The Aggies went down in order in the sixth but the first two batters in the seventh flied out. K. Creech kept the CU hopes alive with a single and Alyssa Deanda hit a ball that the Falcons mis-played. But the next batter flied out to end the game.

The twinbill Friday was all CU as Tinley Schmidgal threw a 3-hit shutout and drove in two runs in a 10-0 victory in the second game and Stormee Reed threw a 3-hit shutout in a 5-0 victory in Game 1 as Cameron’s softball team earned a series victory over UT-Permian Basin Friday.

The Aggies took the win in Game 1 thanks to some big hits and several UT-PB errors. CU got a pair of runs in the second and a solo run in the third Reed slammed the door on the Falcons. She walked three but fanned seven to keep the hosts at idle throughout the game.

Cameron didn’t score in the first but Madysen Boutwell singled to start the top of the second and Rylee Ross reached on a fielding error. The Falcons got an out on a popup but then Mia Garcia hit a ball to short that was thrown wildly and both runners scored.

Boutwell took care of the run in the third with a solo home run and a pair of UT-PB errors accounted for the run in the top of the sixth.

Alyssa Deanda, Schmidgal, Boutwell and Kelsey Creech each had a pair of hits in Game 1.

The Aggies gave Schmidgal all the runs she needed in the first inning, putting six on the board to take command. Johansen got a big number of reserves into both games including Creech, a junior transfer from Hill College, who started the early barrage with a single. Deanda put down a good bunt that she beat out to put a pair of runners on base. Taylor Rowley earned a walk to load the bases for Kaiden Boren who reached base on an error but she got a pair of RBIS.

Schmidgal singled for another run and Kyndel McDaniel, a sophomore from Fort Worth, singled in another run. After a hit by pitch, Ross, a sophomore from Newcastle, singled home another run. The Falcons finally got the second out but Deanda got her second hit of the inning to bring home the sixth run before the Falcons got a runner trying to take an extra base for the third out.

McDaniel led the Aggies with three hits and two RBI while Ross, Schmidgal and Deanda all had a pair of hits and Ross also drove in three runs.

Schmidgal got the pitching victory by fanning three and not walking a batter.