DENTON, Texas (April 22, 2022) – Kristin Rodriguez recorded a career high four hits, including two doubles, in the Texas Woman's University 10-3 game two win over Texas A&M International University on Friday night.
 
TWU (10-31, 5-21 Lone Star Conference) came alive in game two against TAMIU (15-32, 6-8) to record the big LSC win, after losing game one, 4-0.
 
"What an exciting second game," TWU head coach Amber Barker said. "The fight from the first inning to the last was fun to see, and the way they supported each other helped lead us to an incredible team win."
 
In the first game of the afternoon, the Dustdevils controlled the offensive push. The Pioneers held TAMIU scoreless for the first two innings of play, before the Dustdevils scored a combined three runs in the fourth and fifth inning.
 
TWU recorded two hits in game one but were unable to find their offensive groove, losing game one 4-0. Lily Wilson and Nya Brown each recorded one hit in the loss.  
 
In the pitching circle, Jalee McDonald (1-7) received the starting nod. McDonald pitched three innings and struck out two batters. Kelsie Briggs entered the game in the middle of the fourth inning and gave up just one run in four innings.
 
Between games, seniors Da'Jia Davis and Rubi Diaz were honored as participants in TWU's Multicultural Graduation Celebration. Due to game timing, the pair was unable to participate in the campus event, so they received their stoles in a ceremony at Dianne Baker Field. Davis and Diaz both were honored with Kente stoles, in celebration of their African American heritage.
 
Following the celebration, the result of game one was quickly forgotten, and the Pioneers regrouped to come alive in game two.
 
To open the second game, the Pioneers scored one run in the bottom of the first inning, after giving up two runs to the Dustdevils in the top of the first.
 
The run came after Briana Yale singled to center field, and Brown scored.
 
Then, the Pioneers exploded in the bottom of the second inning with three runs to take an early 4-2 lead.
 
With the bases loaded and only one out on the board for TWU, Brown was walked to advance the runners, allowing Alexys Ginegaw to score.
 
Then, immediately following Ginegaw's score, the Pioneers' designated player, Paige Tamayo, hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Rodriguez and Davis utilized their speed to both cross home on Tamayo's sacrifice fly.
 
No more scoring occurred for either team until the fourth inning. Despite giving up one run in the top of the fourth inning, the Pioneers answered in a massive manner, scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
 
In the first at-bat of the inning, Rodriguez kicked it off with a single to third base. Then, Davis endured getting hit by a pitch to get on base. The pair flexed their speed again, as Rodriguez stole third and Davis stole second.
 
The Pioneers loaded the bases with one out on the board after a single by Tamayo.
 
With the bases loaded, the Dustdevils pitcher walked three straight Pioneers, which resulted in three runs. In the barrage of scoring, Rodriguez, Davis and Kate Franz (who entered to pinch run for Tamayo) all crossed home.
 
For the final run of the inning, Missy Wise scored on a TAMIU wild pitch.
 
In the top of the fifth and sixth inning, the Pioneers defense forced the Dustdevils to go three-up three-down, while TWU scored one run in both the fifth and sixth inning.
 
To open the bottom of the fifth inning, Rodriguez, who had the hot bat in the second game, doubled down the left field line. Brown then followed in her footsteps and doubled down the left field line with a perfectly placed hit to score Rodriguez.
 
The Pioneers scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth to increase their lead to seven.
 
Ginegaw started off the inning with a double. Diaz then entered to pinch run for Ginegaw. Then, the double queen of the night, Rodriguez, hit her second double of the night, and Diaz utilized her speed to beat the throw to home.
 
TWU remained solid on defense, holding the Dustdevils scoreless to cement their seven-run win.
 
Jules Malis (5-12) pitched all seven innings for the Pioneers to record her fifth win of the season.
 
On offense, the Pioneers recorded 10 hits, their sixth time recording double digit hits in a game this season.
 
Rodriguez led TWU with four hits, one RBI and three runs. Ginegaw added two hits. Brown, Tamayo, Yale and Rylee Lara all finished with one hit. In RBIs, Brown and Yale topped the Pioneer leaderboard with two RBIs each.
 
Three Pioneers recorded stolen bases in the win: Brown, Rodriguez and Davis.
 
With two stolen bases in game two and one in game one, Brown increased her season total to 27 stolen bases, which ranks fifth in the LSC.
 
The Pioneers will play their final regular season home game tomorrow, Saturday, April 23, at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. TWU will host No. 5 Texas A&M University – Kingsville on Senior Day at Dianne Baker Field.