It's on to the semifinals of the Region XIV Softball Tournament today for the Cardinals.

 

Making the most of one run, the Cardinals cashed in on a gem of a pitching performance from Miranda Pena to take a 1-0 win against Alvin Community College in their tournament opener Saturday afternoon in Houston.

 

The win improved third-year head coach Maria Winn-Ratliff's conference champion squad to 45-14 and into a 5 p.m. contest today against host San Jacinto College (39-22). San Jacinto was a 3-1 winner against Bossier Parish in its opener. The TVCC-San Jacinto winner advances to the championship game at 5 p.m. Monday, when a trip to the NJCAA tournament May 20-25 in Oxford, Ala., will be on the line.

 

Pena was the story for the Cardinals. The Humble freshman hurled a complete-game shutout, scattering four hits and striking out eight. She walked two and was backed up by an errorless defensive effort behind her.

 

The Cardinals had four hits, led by Krystal Anne Castaneda's 2-for-3 production. Castaneda plated the game's lone run in the bottom for the fourth with a single.

 

Kiara Wiedenhaupt scored on the Castaneda single after lacing a double. Abby Hollingsworth had only other Cardinal hit with a single.

 

The Cardinals worked Alvin pitcher Charli Miller for four walks.

 

Miriah DeBose stole three bases for the Cardinals.

 

The fast-paced game took just over an hour and a half to complete.