Texas A&M
Georgia Tech
No. 17 Aggies Fall, 4-0, to No. 8 Georgia Tech
Mar 24, 2010 | Softball
March 24, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The No. 17 Texas A&M softball team gave up four runs early and saw their 11-game winning streak come to an end with a 4-0 loss to No. 8 Georgia Tech on Wednesday evening at the Aggie Softball Complex.
The Yellow Jackets (26-5) scored one in the first and three in the second, and despite each team tallying six hits, Tech held the Aggies (27-7) scoreless through seven for the victory.
"We let some runs get away from us early and we needed to do a better job with that sense of urgency early in the game as opposed to the end of the game," said A&M head coach Jo Evans. "We got better with our at bats as the game went on, we just could not get that timely hit to get us in a rhythm and get us back in the ball game. It's disappointing, but what I liked is that our team did not back down."
To start the game, Georgia Tech's lead-off hitter, Jen Yee, skied the second pitch she saw to center field for her 18th home run of the season and a 1-0 Yellow Jacket advantage in the first.
Tech added three more in the second. Kelsi Weseman started the inning with a double to center and scored on a line-drive double to center by Kristen Adkins. Yee then plated two with a single up the middle to give the Yellow Jackets a 4-0 lead.
The Aggies were not without chances in the first two frames, moving a runner into scoring position in the first and loading the bases in the second after freshman Lauren Schwirtlich and senior Macie Morrow connected for a pair of two-out base hits.
After three scoreless innings, junior Rhi Kliesing and senior Alex Reynolds started the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back singles. Both Aggies advanced into scoring position with two down, but the Yellow Jackets' pitcher, Hope Rush, forced a groundout to get out of the inning unharmed.
In another strong effort in the seventh, Schwirtlich led off with a double to left and Morrow followed with a single to right. Freshman Meagan May walked to load the bases with one out, but the Aggies were unable to push any runs across.
Texas A&M left 11 runners stranded in the game.
"We knew this team could really hit the ball, no question about it," said Evans. "Even still you look at the scoreboard and we both have six hits. They were able to string some hits together and that's what wins ball games. We had a few chances and just couldn't take advantage of our opportunities."
Sophomore Rebecca Arbino (15-4) had won nine straight and started the game in the circle for A&M. She allowed four hits, four runs, a walk and struck out two before being relieved by freshman Melissa Dumezich after one and one-third innings. Dumezich tossed five and two-thirds innings, did not allow a run, gave up two hits, walked three and fanned five.
Rush (14-3) picked up her fifth shutout with a complete game victory. She allowed six hits, four walks and added seven K's.
Yee led all batters going 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Weseman went 3-for-4.
Schwirtlich paced the Aggies going 2-for-3 and Morrow was 2-for-4.
Texas A&M begins Big 12 play this weekend with a two-game series against Kansas at the Aggie Softball Complex. The contest Saturday is scheduled for 1 p.m. and Sunday's first pitch begins at 11 a.m.
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