Texas A&M
Illinois
Aggies Fall to Illinois in Extra Innings
Feb 22, 2009 | Softball
Feb. 22, 2009
HOUSTON - Despite a two-out, bases clearing double by sophomore Kelsey Spittler late in the game, the No. 19 Texas A&M softball team fell to Illinois in the eighth inning, 5-4, in the final contest of the Marriott Houston Invitational on Sunday.
The Aggies (9-7) trailed the Fighting Illini (10-4) the entire game and Spittler (Caldwell, Texas), who hit the game-winning, RBI single against No. 18 Houston yesterday, came through with another big hit in the bottom of the seventh to keep A&M alive.
"I'm disappointed, but I thought our team fought really hard," said head coach Jo Evans. "I love seeing us come back form that deficit in the seventh inning. Spittler was swinging the bat well all day and I felt good about her being up in that situation because she was really being aggressive at the plate. I'm proud of her and think she did a great job to put us back in the game."
With the tiebreaker rule in effect in the top of the eighth frame, Ashley Conrad was placed on second base. Lead-off batter Danielle Zymkowitz attempted a sacrifice bunt to advance Conrad to third, but an Aggie error allowed Zymkowitz to reach base and Conrad to cross the plate to make the score, 4-3. A&M third baseman Alex Reynolds then turned a double play on a line drive and sophomore pitcher Rhi Kliesing forced a fly ball for the third out.
In the bottom of the eighth, Kliesing started on second base and a first pitch wild pitch advanced the Pearland, Texas, native to third. The Aggies, however, were unable to muster a hit in the next three at bats.
"We got better every day this weekend," Evans said. "We need to be more consistent and get better with our defense, but those are things we can improve on and we definitely have the talent to do that."
Illinois got ahead early after Lana Armstrong plated two in the top of the first inning off of a two-out, two-run double to center.
In the bottom of the fourth, freshman Taryn Broussard laced a two-out, line drive single to right center that scored Reynolds from third and cut the Illini lead in half, 2-1. Reynolds reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on an infield ground out.
Kliesing and the Aggies held Illinois scoreless through four innings, but a two-out single by Hollie Pinchback in the top of the sixth followed by a two-run home run by Armstrong put the Illini up, 4-1.
Kliesing (6-4) gave up six hits and struck out six in the loss, while Perry (6-3) earned the win.
Senior Holly Ridley and freshman Kelsea Orsak went 2-for-4, while Broussard added a hit and an RBI.
A&M softball returns home to the Aggie Softball Complex next weekend for the Texas A&M Invitational and a three-game series against No. 11 Arizona.
