Odessa, Tx- On Thursday, February 7th, Coastal Bend Softball played against Trinity Valley Community College for the first game of the Permian Basin Invitational. The Cougars would strike first in the first inning, scoring one run. Left Handed Pitcher, Amanda Aguirre pitched a gem for CBC. Aguirre and the Cougars would keep TVCC scoreless throughout the game. Coastal Bend would increase their lead in the fourth and fifth innings with two runs in each of those innings. Aguirre pitched a two hitter, giving up only one walk while striking out seven Cardinal batters. The Cougars would avenge their loss with a 5-0 Win from last spring's Region XIV Tournament, as Trinity Valley knocked out CBC.
CBC Center Fielder, Vanessa Garces went two for four at the dish, collecting two RBI's. Right Fielder, Madyson Parker recorded an RBI while scoring a run off her two hits. Designated Player, Avery Hearn had a game at the plate, going three for three, scoring two runs and collecting an RBI. Catcher, Brianna McKeel went one for three, also hitting an RBI.
In the second game of the invitational, CBC would face Snow College. The Cougars would score the game's first run in the top of the third inning. Unfortunatley, in the bottom half of the third inning, Snow would score three runs to take the lead. Coastal Bend would fight back, as they knocked the ball around with eight hits, but left 12 runners on base. Snow went on to win the ball game, 3-1.
CBC Shortstop, Kirstie Soto went two for three on the game scoring a run and hitting a Double. Catcher, Brianna McKeel knocked in three base hits for the Cougars, going three for three.
Starting pitcher, Kirstyn Gomez pitched three and a third of an inning, allowing one earned run, and six hits. Amanda Aguirre entered the pitching circle in the fouth inning to relieve Gomez. Aguirre pitched two and two thirds of an inning, only giving up one hit and one walk whie striking out three batters.
On Friday, February 8th, CBC faced Trinidad State Junior College for the third game of the invitational. Kirstyn Gomez received the start for CBC in the circle. Coastal Bend broke up the 0-0 tie in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. In the top of the second inning TSJC took the lead by scoring two runs. The Cougars would answer back with four runs to reclaim the lead. Trinidad State would cut into the 5-2 deficit in the fourth inning by scoring two runs. In the bottom of the fourth inning, CBC expanded their lead, 7-4 by scoring two runs. The Trojans would score another two runs in the next two innings, but the Cougars were too much for TSJC. Coastal Bend went on to win the game by a final score of 10-6, scoring insurance runs in the last two innings.
CBC Shortstop, Annette Cardenas hit in three RBI's, scored twice while going three for four at the plate. Right Fielder, Avery Hearn went two for four, scoring once and knocking in two RBI's. Catcher, Brianna McKeel also scored a run and hit an RBI during her plate appearances. Pitcher, Kirstyn Gomez went one for two at the dish, collecting an RBI. Devon Parsons recorded two hits and two RBI's during both at bats.
Gomez went four and two thirds of an inning, allowing two hits, six walks and six strikeouts. Devon Parsons entered the game to relieve Gomez, allowing two hits, one run while striking out a Trojan batter. Amanda Aguirre also saw action in the pitching circle once she came in to relieve Parsons. Aguirre allowed one hit, one walk while striking out a Trojan batter.
Midland, Tx- For the last game of the day on Friday, the Cougars squared off against Midland College. The Chaparrals broke the 0-0 tie in the bottom of the first by scoring one run in the inning. Coastal Bend answered back with a run of their own to tie the game up. The next score in the game would not occur until the top of the sixth inning, when CBC took a one run lead. Midland would tie the game up in the last inning, 2-2. In a ball game that would go into extra innings, the Cougars and Chaps both battled all game long, matching each other run for run. The eight inning, both ball clubs scored two runs, in the ninth inning, the teams would match each other by scoring four runs a piece. During the 10th inning, CBC scored two runs and Midland scrapped back with two runs of their own. In the 11th inning, the Cougars score one run and the Chaps answered back with a run to tie the game up at 11-11. The top of the 12th inning, CBC scored what would be the game winning run, as the Cougars went on to victory, holding MC off with a 12-11 win.
Third baseman, Emily Michki had three hits during her seven at bats, hitting a Double. Shortstop, Kirstie Soto went two for four on the game. Second baseman, Annette Cardenas recorded three hits out of her six appearances in the batter's box.
Staying in Midland for the fifth and final game of the invitational, Coastal Bend went up against Lamar Community College. The ball game would turn out to be a slugfest for the Cougars. CBC racked up 16 runs in five innings of play, before run ruling LCC.
Coastal Bend First baseman, Madyson Parker batted 1.000 for the game, going four for four. Parker collected five RBI's on four hits. Shortstop, Annette Cardenas went four for four during her plate appearances, hitting a Home Run and two RBI's. Right Fielder, Avery Hearn recorded two RBI's and scored a run for CBC. Catcher, Brianna McKeel went one for three at the dish, collecting an RBI and scoring twice. Pitcher, Kirstyn Gomez went two for three, knocking in an RBI and scoring a run off her two hits. Second baseman, Ashley Soto scored a run and brought in a run as she went two for four during her at bats with a Double.
Coastal Bend Softball improves to eight wins on season with seven losses. The Cougars next set of games will be in Abilene, Tx on the weekend of February 22nd and 23rd for a tournament. First Game is at 1:30 PM vs Midland College.