Feb. 16, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M sophomore Natalie Villarreal and senior Holly Ridley were named to the 2009 Easton Tiger Classic All-Tournament Team for their outstanding play in Baton Rouge, La., this past weekend.
Villarreal is from Frisco, Texas, and led the No. 5 Aggie softball team hitting .500 with a .650 on base percentage. She had a team best seven hits, six walks and two stolen bases. The second baseman added a double, three runs and three RBIs.
Right fielder and co-captain Ridley tallied four hits, a team-high five RBIs and an impressive .600 slugging percentage. She laced two hits for extra bases, including the first triple of the year and her third home run. Ridley and sophomore Rhi Kliesing lead the team with three long balls apiece.
Despite going 1-4 at the tournament, both Aggies came up with big hits in key situations. Against No. 21 LSU on Saturday, Villarreal hit a two-run single with two down in the fourth that tied the game. She proceeded to lead off the seventh with a base hit and scored the tying run off of a two-out single by Ridley to send the game into extra innings.
Ridley's triple on Friday increased A&M's lead against Sam Houston State to 7-3. The Aggies ended up winning the contest 8-3 after a 14-inning win against the Bearkats on Wednesday.
The Aggies are 5-5 and travel to San Marcos, Texas, on Wednesday to face Texas State at 6 p.m.