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Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Tim Lester, Photographer Senior Brittany Welch takes a swing during a midweek match.

Shutout has a whole new meaning to the No. 4-ranked Rambelle softball team.

After a three-game set against the Texas A&M Kingsville Javelinas, the team did not let a single runner cross home plate en route to a series sweep.

The three matches were the 'Belles final games in the Lone Star Conference South Division of the season.

With the series sweep, the 'Belles are one game away from winning their fifth divisional title in six years.

"It's the Lone Star South," Coach Travis Scott said. "You have good competition, and you have to give other teams credit more times than not."

Game 1
Kari Galm (26-2) pitched a gem and her 11th shutout of the season as the 'Belles beat the Javelinas 3-0 in the opening game of the doubleheader.

The offense started to grind gears in the fourth inning with junior Macy Baker cranking out a two-score home run to give the 'Belles a 2-0 advantage.

Then in the seventh, sophomore Kristen Frye would score the 'Belles final run off a Javelina error.

Galm ended the match with six strikeouts and only one hit in her seven inning contribution.

Game 2
In the following game, a clutch pitching performance by senior Brittney Cargill was the difference in a 2-0 'Belle victory.

In the fourth inning, Baker hit a double to knock in senior Whittney Meeks to take a 1-0 lead over the Javelinas. After a few scoreless innings, freshman Alix Dean hit a single to left field to bring in senior Vanessa Rodriguez for the final run of the match.

Cargill (3-0) struck out two batters and allowed only six hits through the complete seven inning match in her first shutout of the season.

Game 3
The offense started cycling on all cylinders in the final match against the Javelinas as the 'Belles finished off the sweep in 8-0 fashion.

Sophomore Kaycee Taylor kicked off the scoring for the 'Belles in the third inning as she hit her second home run of the season, bringing in two other 'Belles to give the team a 3-0 advantage.

Later in the fourth inning, the 'Belles would add four more scores off Cargill RBIs and two careless errors by the Javelinas.

With the win, Galm has yet to give up a score in 24 innings of play as she struck out two Javelina batters in the final game.

"Kari's biggest strength is she can spin the ball both in and out of the zone," pitching coach Claudia Lopez said. "The spins are what makes people hit grounders so much."

Upcoming
The 'Belles will finish regular season play with a two-game stint against the Midwestern State Lady Mustangs. The first match of the doubleheader is set for 3 p.m. Saturday, April 26, with the following match at 5 p.m. Both games will be played at the ASU Softball Complex.

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