The Southwest Lady Mustangs hit the road to take on Houston-Victoria for a Friday doubleheader and came away with a pair of tough losses despite showing plenty of fight at the plate.
Game 1: Southwest 2, Houston-Victoria 13 (5 innings)
Houston-Victoria struck early and often in the first game, putting up a 9-run first inning that set the tone in a 13-2 run-rule win. Southwest managed eight hits but left seven runners on base and committed four errors defensively.
Freshman Adriana Nettles led the offense, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base. Layla Stouder and Haylee Hernandez each added two hits, while Danali Garces drove in a run. Despite the offensive output, the team couldn't keep pace with the Jaguars' explosive start.
On the mound, Tomi Parham was charged with the loss after allowing eight earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning. Ashley Alvarez came in for relief and struck out four over 3.1 innings.
Game 2: Southwest 8, Houston-Victoria 13
Southwest showed more life in the second game, scoring in four different innings and totaling 12 hits, but a 7-run sixth inning by Houston-Victoria proved too much to overcome.
Haylee Hernandez continued her hot day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Yesenia Rodriguez drove in two runs as part of her 2-hit effort, and Elexes Martinez delivered a perfect 2-for-2 performance with an RBI and a stolen base.
Despite the offense, pitching woes persisted. Alexis Belen allowed 11 earned runs over five innings, and although Ashley Alvarez tossed a scoreless sixth, the deficit proved too much.