The numbers keep adding up for the 18th-ranked Cardinal softball team.
The Cardinals recorded a milestone win and set a school record Thursday afternoon in an overwhelming Region XIV Conference sweep of Kilgore College in a pair of games played at Tatum High School. Coach Maria Winn-Ratliff's squad won both games in convincing five-inning fashion – 10-0 in Game 1 and 28-0 in Game 2.
With the wins, the Cardinals raised their season record to 34-12, setting a school record for wins in a season. The previous record was 33, set in 2013, 2021 and 2023. The Cardinals are 13-3 in conference.
The win also was the 400th in program history.
The Cardinals have a busy weekend ahead. Saturday, they travel to Mount Pleasant to take on Northeast Texas Community College in games at 1 and 3:30 p.m. They are scheduled to be in Hillsboro on Sunday in non-conference action against Hill College, also at 1 and 3:30 p.m.
The Cardinals' next home game is scheduled Wednesday, April 17 against Alvin. Action starts at 2 p.m.
Here are recaps of the wins against Kilgore:
GAME 1
TVCC 10, Kilgore 0
(5 innings)
The Cardinals built a 5-0 lead through four innings and then piled on five more in the fifth and it was over.
Mariah DeBose, Ashlyn Weinert and Kiara Wiedenhaupt led a 12-hit effort for the Cardinals with two each. Wiedenhaupt had a home run and double and drove in two runs. DeBose had a triple. Weinert drove in a pair of runs.
Destiny Menchaca also had an extra-base hit with double.
Nicole Stuhr worked four innings in the circle. She struck out two and surrendered just one hit.
GAME 2
TVCC 28, Kilgore 0
(5 innings)
The Cardinals scored 16 runs in the top of the first inning and coasted the rest of the way.
Alessandra Borjas was the beneficiary of the offensive exhibition. She went three innings in the circle before giving way to Mikayla Marrujo. Borjas struck out three and gave up one hit.
A 19-hit attack was led by Addison Wittram, Menchaca and Wiedenhaupt with four each. DeBose had three. All four players each scored four runs.
Menchaca, by the numbers, carried the biggest stick. She blasted a home run, had a double and drove in six runs.
Jaeden Burnham and Weinert each had a home run to give the Cardinals three for the game.
Krystal Castaneda, who had a triple, and Burnham each drove in four runs.
The Cardinals had eight extra-base hits, including a pair of Wiedenhaupt doubles.
