A&M Opens Fall Season With Two Wins

Sept. 30, 2008

 

Box Score

 

 

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M softball team opened its fall season with a doubleheader sweep of Temple Junior College on Tuesday at the Aggie Softball Complex.

The Aggies won the first game 2-0 and heated up for 10 hits and an 8-0, five-inning shutout in the nightcap.

"It was a good first couple games for us," said head coach Jo Evans. "Offensively we struggled a little in the first game and I was pleased to see the way we came back in the second game - more aggressive at the plate, driving the ball and putting pressure on their defense. I think we learned some things about our young players and understand the little things that we need to work on."

Senior Erin Glasco recorded the first hit of the fall with a single up the middle in the fourth inning of game one. With two outs, freshman Taryn Broussard dropped a single into shallow center field and sophomore Eden Morris then drew a walk to allow Glasco to cross the plate to get A&M out to a 1-0 lead.

In the sixth, Broussard ripped a single through the right side and plated junior Bailey Schroeder from second to put the Aggies up 2-0.

Sophomore Rhiannon Kliesing threw a complete-game shutout in the circle, giving up just two hits and striking out eight.

In the third frame of the nightcap, A&M posted four runs on five hits highlighted by an RBI double by sophomore Natalie Villarreal. Freshman Holly Ridley also scored runners with singles up the middle.

Schroeder drew her second walk of the game to lead off the fourth inning and moved to second on a groundout by junior Macie Morrow. With two outs, Schroeder touched home plate as Villarreal laced a ball up the middle and legged it out to second. Kliesing increased the Aggies' lead to 6-0 hitting a long double to left field that plated Villarreal.

In the fifth, Ridley and junior Alex Reynolds hit back-to-back singles and forced an errant throw by Temple on aggressive base running. Ridley scored on the error and a groundout on the right side by Morrow allowed Reynolds to cross the plate from third and end the game in an 8-0 run rule.

Freshman Rebecca Arbino gave up one hit and fanned four in five innings of work for the win in game two.

"I thought that our pitchers both looked good tonight," said Evans. "They did a nice job of staying ahead of hitters and really took command of the game. It starts in the circle and they showed good presence on the mound."

A&M softball continues its fall season with four games this weekend at the Spring Klein College Classic.