April 30, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format 
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The No. 20 Texas A&M softball team travels to Texas Tech this weekend for a two-game set with the Red Raiders. First pitch on Saturday is set for 2 p.m. and Sunday's game begins at noon.
The Aggies (37-13, 8-6 Big 12) are coming off of an 11-1, six-inning run rule of Baylor on Wednesday. Freshman Macie Morrow and junior Amanda Scarborough (2005) and Lisa Klam (1999) each blasted six home runs in league play their freshman seasons.
RPI
In the most recent NCAA softball RPI that came out on April 27, Texas A&M was moved up a spot to 18th. Alabama, Michigan, Washington, Florida and Georgia Tech round out the top five, while the Big 12 had five schools in the top 20. Texas was ranked sixth, Oklahoma eighth, Missouri 10th and Oklahoma State 15th. Texas Tech (43), Nebraska (52), Iowa State (53), Baylor (58) and Kansas (93) are ranked further down on the list.
WHO'S HOT?
In the last two games, Kliesing has been in a league of her own, going 7-for-10 for a .700 batting average and on base percentage. In the last seven games, May has boasted a .500 average with four of eight hits for home runs and eight walks for a 1.250 slugging percentage and a .680 on base percentage.
AGGIES ON THE ROAD
A&M is 5-4 on the road this season and 3-3 when traveling in Big 12 games. As the away team in Big 12 games, the Aggies are hitting .226 with a 2.95 ERA and an opponent batting average of .269. May leads the offense hitting .400 with three of six hits for home runs, four runs scored, a 1.000 slugging percentage and a .591 on base percentage. Spittler (.333) is also hitting above .300 and leads the team with seven hits, including three extra-base hits, and eight RBIs.
LEADING THE WAY
May leads A&M with a .413 batting average and 57 hits. She holds a conference-best 21 home runs, 44 walks, 59 RBIs, 135 total bases, a .567 on base percentage and a .978 slugging percentage. Kliesing is second on the team with a .387 batting average, 55 hits, eight home runs and 44 RBIs. Sophomore Rebecca Arbino (18-9) leads the league with nine shutouts, while Dumezich (13-1) posts the lowest ERA on the team at 1.96.
In conference games, Kliesing has a team-best .395 batting average with 15 hits and three doubles. May (.344) has 14 RBIs, and freshman Lauren Schwirtlich (.292) records 14 hits. In addition, in Big 12 only games, May leads the conference with seven home runs, 14 RBIs, a .1.000 slugging percentage and 17 walks. The Aggies lead the league with 62 walks, including the top three individuals in May, Reynolds (12 walks) and Kliesing (11 walks).
SCOUTING TEXAS TECH
With the regular season winding down, the Red Raiders are vying for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. They sit 43rd in the most recent RPI and look to make a push in the Big 12 standings as well. Tech has another motivation driving the team, with Senior Day on Sunday. Emily Bledsoe leads the Red Raiders with a .362 batting average, 50 hits, 41 runs, 16 doubles, 19 walks and eight-of-eight stolen bases. She is one of four players hitting above .300. Mikey Kenney (.333) provides the power on the team with 15 home runs, 40 RBIs and a .719 slugging percentage. Logan Hall (.304) is also a solid hitter with 13 doubles. In the circle, Ashley Jacobs (13-6) has seen the most action. She holds opponents to a .192 batting average and has struck out 105 in 130.2 innings of work. Pitchers Karli Merlich (11-2, 2.34 ERA) and Ashley Brokeshoulder (7-5, 2.21 ERA) split the remaining action. First-year head coach Shanon Hays is at the helm of the program.
VERSUS THE RED RAIDERS
The Aggies hold a 21-11 advantage in the all-time series against Texas Tech. A&M took two games from the Red Raiders in College Station, Texas, last year and won 12 of the last 15 contests between the two teams. Two of Tech's three wins in that span were by one run.
Last year, Erin Glasco launched a two-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh to give Texas A&M a 5-4, come-from-behind victory in game one. In the second game, Kliesing threw a two-hit shutout to lead the Aggies to a 6-0 win and series sweep over Tech. Kliesing picked up the 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.