Feb. 16, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format 
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The 21st-ranked Texas A&M softball team (4-1) looks to continue its winning ways when it travels to Huntsville, Texas, to take on Sam Houston State (1-4) on Wednesday. The first pitch is thrown at 4 p.m.
Last year when the Aggies traveled to the Bearkat Softball Complex, it was a 14-inning battle and A&M came out on top, 2-1, after Erin Glasco scored Alex Reynolds on an RBI double. The Aggies defeated Sam Houston twice later in the season, 8-3 and 6-1.
Texas A&M holds an 80-13 record against the Bearkats and has won 34 straight games against Sam Houston dating back to 1995.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live stats and live audio will be provided for Wednesday's game on AggieAthletics.com. The contests will also be broadcast live on KNDE-FM's HD3 channel, Play x REPlay (95.1-3 on the FM dial of an HD Radio), making it available worldwide on any iPhone, iPod Touch, Blackberry or PDA free of charge. Log on to radioaggieland.com for more information.
LAST TIME OUT
The Aggies opened the season at the Kajikawa Classic, in Tempe, Ariz., where four of their five opponents were either nationally ranked or receiving votes. They came home with an upset of No. 11 California, while the only blemish A&M faced was against No. 5 Arizona State. Freshman Macie Morrow followed closely posting a .500 batting average. Morrow recorded eight hits, scored six runs and added a triple and three RBIs from the lead-off spot. Junior Rhi Kliesing led the pitching staff with a 3-0 record, a career-high, 14-strikeout performance, and 33 K's in 18 innings pitched.
BIG 12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
May was named the first Big 12 Softball Player of the Week for the 2010 season. In her collegiate debut, May led the Aggies in every offensive category with a .533 batting average, eight hits, three doubles, three home runs, 10 RBIs, six runs, a 1.333 slugging percentage and a .632 on base percentage. She started every game and only struck out once in 15 at bats. The catcher from Spring, Texas, was instrumental in A&M's 4-1 record on the weekend, which included an upset of No. 11 California. May went 2-for-4 with a home run in the Aggies' loss to No. 5 Arizona State and hit a game-tying, three-run homer to help the team comeback against Nevada. The Big 12 honor was the first of May's career.
AGGIES IN THE POLLS
Texas A&M broke into the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 this week after its stellar opening weekend. The Aggies were receiving votes in the preseason poll, but jumped into the top 25 on Tuesday. A&M's remaining opponents appearing in the polls are, No. 5/6 Missouri, No. 12/13 Oklahoma, No. 9/10 Georgia Tech, No. 15/20 Texas and No. 25 Baylor. In addition, Oklahoma State, San Diego State and Mississippi State are receiving votes.
SCOUTING SAM HOUSTON STATE
The Kats started the year 1-4 at the Marriott Cougar Softball Classic in Houston last weekend. Sam Houston opened with an 8-0 run-rule of Kansas, but fell to the Jayhawks later in the tournament. The team also suffered losses to Baylor, Ohio State and Houston. Junior Hailey Wiginton hit safely in all five games and has a .417 average. She is the only Bearkat hitting above .300. Morgan Mikulin saw the most time in the circle and went 1-2 with a 3.67 ERA.
ON DECK
A&M's home opener is set for Friday, Feb. 19 against Mississippi State in the Aggie Classic. The team remains in the comfortable confines of the Aggie Softball Complex for seven straight games, including five as a part of the Aggie Classic. Louisiana-Monroe, Oregon State, the Bulldogs and the Aggies make up the four-team tournament.
SISK INJURED
Junior transfer Lindsey Sisk injured the tendon to her middle finger on her non-throwing hand and will be out for 4-6 weeks.
BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL
A&M was picked to finish sixth in the Big 12 Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Aggies received 44 points and finished behind preseason favorite Oklahoma (79), Missouri (75), Baylor (61), Nebraska (49), and Texas (48). A&M was selected as the frontrunner for three consecutive years, from 2006-08, and was picked third last season. Oklahoma State placed seventh with 41 points, followed by Iowa State (23), Kansas (17) and Texas Tech (14).
AGGIE SOFTBALL ON TV
The Aggies are one of just four Big 12 schools to have a regular season game televised on ESPN this season. A&M's contest against Missouri on April 25 will air on ESPN. In addition, the Big 12 Tournament title game will be broadcast on FSN.