Texas A&M
Texas Tech
No. 24 Softball Sweeps Series with a Shutout
Apr 11, 2009 | Softball
April 11, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M sophomore Rhi Kliesing threw a two-hit shutout to lead the No. 24 Aggie softball team to a 6-0 win and series sweep over Texas Tech at the Aggie Softball Complex on Saturday afternoon.
The Aggies (26-15, 4-5 Big 12) took two from the Red Raiders (13-32, 2-9 Big 12) with a 5-4, come-from-behind win yesterday to mark their first Big 12 sweep this season.
From Pearland, Texas, Kliesing (17-10) picked up her fifth shutout and was two infield singles away from a perfect game. Only three balls left the infield for routine fly outs. In addition, Kliesing threw just 59 pitches, less than half of the 153 thrown by Tech. She did not give up a walk and added a strikeout.
Kliesing also helped her cause at the plate, blasting a solo shot to center field in the sixth inning. The home run was her sixth of the season.
Sophomore Natalie Villarreal started Aggies with a single up the middle in the bottom of the first. A&M proceeded to load the bases, but was not able to push a run across.
The game remained scoreless through two and a half innings until junior Alex Reynolds lined a bases loaded, RBI single to right field with one out. Junior Bailey Schroeder then singled through the left side and plated pinch runner Erin Glasco and Spittler each walked to load the bases.
A&M tacked on a run in the fourth with doubles from Villarreal and Glasco to give the Aggies a 4-0 advantage. Villarreal's double was her 10th of the season and Glasco hit her seventh.
Kliesing's lead-off home run in the sixth was followed by walks from Villarreal, Glasco and Spittler as the A&M loaded the bases for the third time in the game. Reynolds scored Villarreal with an RBI groundout to put the Aggies ahead 6-0.
A&M played flawless defense and retired the Red Raiders in order five of the seven innings. Villarreal went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Reynolds and Schroeder were each 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Glasco and Spittler each walked three times and Glasco added a double and an RBI.
The Aggies close out their five-game home stand against Baylor on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Aggie Softball Complex.
