March 3, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The No. 19 Texas A&M softball team homered twice and scored four runs in the fifth inning to earn a 6-4 victory over Houston on Wednesday evening in front of 778 fans at the Aggie Softball Complex.
The Aggies (13-3) picked up their third win in a row and the first of 13 straight home games, while the Cougars (7-9) dropped their second consecutive contest.
UH's Jennifer Klinkert started the scoring and led off the top of the second with a bloop single to left. She crossed the plate on a two-out A&M error to take a 1-0 lead.
Texas A&M loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning and freshman Alex Reynolds on a one-out, sharply-hit single through the left side.
Freshman Sydney Shannon led off the fourth frame with a line-drive, solo home run to center to give the Aggies their first lead of the game, 2-1.
A&M broke the game open and chased off Houston's starting pitcher, Amanda Crabtree, with a four-run fifth inning. Freshman Rhi Kliesing and Reynolds were followed with a two-run double to right center by senior Bailey Schroeder. Senior Macie Morrow tallied the first hit off of relief pitcher, Bailey Watts, to score Schroeder and extend the Aggies' lead to 6-1.
"It was good to see us hit throughout the whole lineup in that inning," said A&M head coach Jo Evans. "Our hitters did a good job to keep plugging away and scoring runs to keep enough distance between us (and Houston)."
The A&M defense retired the Cougars in order in the sixth thanks to a diving catch by Schroeder in right center field.
"That was a fantastic play," exclaimed Evans. "It was perfect timing on Bailey's part; she just laid full-out. She didn't have another inch to spare to make that catch and it was just tremendous. She had a really good read on the ball."
The Cougars, however, tried to make things interesting in the seventh. With two on and two out, Baillie Lott hit a three-run long ball to bring Houston within two, but the Aggies notched the final out of the game in the next batter.
Sophomore Rebecca Arbino (6-2) threw all seven innings for the win. She allowed four runs on five hits, walked just one and struck out five.
"Becca looked really good, she was in a nice rhythm," said Evans. "It was great to have a lead, but I thought she did a really nice job."
Crabtree (1-4) gave up all six runs on six hits for the loss. She added five walks and five K's.
Schroeder and May led all hitters going 2-for-3. Schroeder posted a team-high two RBIs and May added one.
The Aggies step back on the diamond tomorrow and start the Texas A&M Invitational with a game against BYU. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at the Aggie Softball Complex.