March 20, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -
The No. 19 Texas A&M softball team opens Big 12 play this weekend hosting Nebraska for a two-game series at the Aggie Softball Complex. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.
The Aggies (22-10) enter conference play after their fourth straight 4-1 weekend and fourth consecutive tournament title. Last weekend A&M won four of five at the FAU Parents' Weekend Classic, defeating Bethune-Cookman, Florida Atlantic, Liberty and Rutgers and falling to Purdue.
The Huskers (19-5), meanwhile, have won six in a row, in addition to 13 of their last 14 games. NU took two one-run, extra-inning games from North Dakota State on Tuesday before handing South Dakota a pair of losses on Wednesday.
The Aggies have won 10 of their last 12 games and six straight in the series against Nebraska. A&M took three games from the Huskers in 2008 alone, including a 5-0 shutout in the title game of the Big 12 Championship.
A&M is 8-5 in Big 12 openers earning victories in each of the last five years. The Aggies have only opened conference play against Nebraska once with a 1-0 win on March 27, 1999.
A&M posts a .289 team batting average and 2.04 staff ERA, and is led individually by sophomore Holly Ridley (.333) and junior Alex Reynolds (.313) are also hitting above .300.
Sophomore Rhi Kliesing leads the pitching staff with a 1.82 ERA and 123 strikeouts. Freshman Rebecca Arbino (2.09 ERA) has not allowed a run in her last five starts and has recorded 62 K's this season.
Live stats and free live audio and video are available for both games this weekend on AggieAthletics.com.
General parking is free on days when there is not a baseball game and is available in lots 100g, 100j and 100k.
PROMOTIONS
Saturday: Military Appreciation Day - Members of the military will receive $3 admission.
Sunday: Youth Day - Kids under 12 receive free admission. Stick around after the game for an autograph session with the team and as always on Sundays, kids can run the bases for free postgame.