Texas A&M
Arizona State
Aggies Drop First Game of Season to No. 5 Arizona State
Feb 13, 2010 | Softball
Feb. 13, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Texas A&M softball team could not sustain an early lead against No. 5 Arizona State and fell for the first time this season, 10-4, on Saturday night in the Kajikawa Classic at Farrington Stadium.
The Aggies downed Nevada, 6-4, earlier in the day and notched an upset of No. 11 Cal last night, but moved to 3-1 on the season with the loss and saw the Sun Devils improve to 4-1 with the come-from-behind victory.
"When you play a great team to have to be on top of every play and not just make routine plays; you have to make some great plays and we didn't," said head coach Jo Evans. "We're young and you could see that in the way we played on our heels a little tonight. We didn't give up and I thought we played a little scared, but we're going to have to learn. We get a timely hit and we're right back in the ball game, but we stranded too many runners in key situations."
Texas A&M got out to a quick lead in the top of the first inning off the bat of junior Rhi Kliesing. Her three-run long ball scored junior Kelsey Spittler and freshman Meagan May who reached on a single.
In the bottom of the frame, Arizona State loaded the bases with two outs but A&M retired the sixth batter and got out of the inning unharmed.
The Sun Devils loaded the bases again in the second and Mandy Urfer scored from third on a fielder's choice before Katelyn Boyd launched a grand slam and put ASU up 5-3.
May answered in the top of the third with her second home run of the day, a solo shot to left, to move the Aggies within one run.
In the bottom half of the inning, Arizona State drew a two-out walk and singled before a wild pitch moved two base runners into scoring position. Sophomore Rebecca Arbino stepped out of the circle before approaching the rubber between pitches and Urfer stole home. Lesley Rogers then hit an RBI single up the middle and the Sun Devils went ahead, 7-4.
Senior Macie Morrow continued producing from the lead-off spot and started the top of the fifth frame with a single down the left field line. The Aggies proceeded to load the bases with one out, but they were unable to push any runs across.
Christina Zambrana's three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth gave ASU a 10-4 lead.
The Aggies continued to fight and loaded the bases a second time in the sixth, this time with two outs, but left all three runners on base again.
Arbino was saddled with the loss after giving up seven runs on nine hits, walking four and striking out four. Freshman Mel Dumezich also saw time in the circle and allowed three runs on two hits.
ASU pitcher Megan Elliot earned the win after giving up four runs on seven hits, walking five and striking out six.
Morrow led the Aggies at the plate going 2-for-3. May added a pair of hits, including a homer, and a pair of runs, while Kliesing hit .500 with a home run and three RBIs.
The Aggies play their final game of the Kajikawa Classic tomorrow at 10 a.m. against Cal State Northridge. Follow the contest on AggieAthletics.com or listen to Louie Belina call all the action live on Sports Radio 1150 The Zone.
