Texas A&M
Tulsa
A&M Blasts Three Home Runs and Wins Aggie Classic
Feb 07, 2009 | Softball
Feb. 7, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Home runs by freshman Taryn Broussard and sophomores Rhiannon Kliesing and Natalie Villarreal highlighted an 8-0 run rule of UTSA in Texas A&M's last game of the 2009 Aggie Classic, presented by Honey Baked Ham. The No. 5 Aggie softball team dropped a contest earlier in the day to Tulsa, 3-2, but still came out as the tournament champion going 3-1 on their opening weekend.
"Overall we did a good job," said head coach Jo Evans. "We let one get away from us, with the Tulsa game, having come from behind in the fashion we did, and I think that was a little bit of youth. It was a good start and we can learn a lot from this weekend and move forward."
Broussard, from Lake Jackson, Texas, got A&M out to an early lead in the second inning of the UTSA game with the first home run of her collegiate career - a solo shot to left field.
Kliesing (Pearland, Texas) added another run in the third frame after going yard for the third time this weekend.
In the fifth, sophomore Alex Reynolds and an infield error by the Roadrunners gave way to four consecutive Aggie singles. Junior Macie Morrow's base hit up the middle scored Reynolds from second, while Broussard picked up her third and fourth RBIs of the game with a single to center. In her first at bat of the year, sophomore Kara Rau ripped a single through the left side and let lead-off batter Spittler plate pinch runner Andrea Tovar from second to end the game in an 8-0 run rule.
Kliesing earned her second shutout in two games after giving up six hits, walking none and striking out five.
"I think this weekend was a huge boost for Rhi," said Evans. "Our team feels really comfortable with her out there. We play relaxed and really swing the bat. She has a good presence on the mound and did a good job to stay focused this weekend. She's our leader, we're going to need her and she's going to do a nice job."
A&M and Tulsa battled through five and a half scoreless innings before the Golden Hurricane got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth. Lauren Lindsay led off with a base hit and was sacrificed to second before Kailey Yarmer dropped a single into shallow center field moving Lindsay to third. The junior outfielder then slid into home on a fielder's choice in the infield.
The Aggies answered quickly as Morrow and junior Bailey Schroeder led off the top of the seventh with back-to-back singles. Spittler grounded out to first base and advanced both runners into scoring position before Villarreal stepped to the plate with two outs. The Frisco, Texas, native laced a single through the right side that plated Morrow and Schroeder and put the Aggies in the lead, 2-1.
In the bottom of the inning, Jessica Stoelke reached base on a lead-off walk and was sacrificed to second by Kelly Chapman. Stephanie Chomicki followed with a base hit to advance Stoelke to third before Lindsay dropped a single into shallow left center to bring the freshman outfielder across the plate for the winning run.
Broussard led the Aggies batting .500 on the day with a home run, three RBIs, a walk and a run scored. Morrow was 2-for-6 with two runs and an RBI, while Kliesing hit .333, with three walks and was hit by a pitch. Villarreal added two hits, including a home run, and four RBIs.
A&M softball takes its first road trip on Wednesday, traveling to Sam Houston State for a 4:30 p.m. contest in Huntsville, Texas.
