Texas A&M
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Kansas
May's Grand Slam Lifts No. 17 Aggies to 12-4 Run Rule
Mar 27, 2010 | Softball
March 27, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M freshman Meagan May blasted her first career grand slam to give the Aggie softball team a 12-4, six-inning run rule of Kansas in its Big 12 season opener on Saturday afternoon at the Aggie Softball Complex.
With the game tied 4-4 going into the bottom of the sixth, May led off the inning and was intentionally walked. A&M proceeded to scored four runs and batted through the lineup before the Spring, Texas, native stepped to the plate for a second time in the frame, this time with the bases loaded. With a 2-2 count, May went with a curveball on the outside corner to launch her 15th home run of the season and the game-ending blow.
"Meagan was looking outside and I don't know if the pitch was on the plate or a little off, but it doesn't matter if that's the pitch you're looking for, and she got all of it," exclaimed head coach Jo Evans. "I'm just really pleased that our team kept fighting today. We had so many opportunities early on and didn't take advantage of them, but the last inning, we did exactly what we were supposed to do."
With their first conference win in front of 704 fans, the Aggies improved to 28-7 overall and 1-0 in the Big 12. The Jayhawks fell to 14-16 and 0-1 in league play.
A&M started the game by moving runners into scoring position with one out, but KU pitcher Allie Clark struck out the next two keep the Aggies off the scoreboard.
Senior Bailey Schroeder led off the next inning with a double a bounce away from the right field wall. After she advanced to third on a passed ball, freshman Lauren Schwirtlich plated Schroeder on an infield single to get the Aggies out ahead, 1-0.
In similar fashion, Sara Ramirez led off with a double to right center in the top of the third. She was sacrificed to third base before Marissa Ingle dropped an RBI single into shallow center to answer and make the score 1-1.
A&M took the lead again in the bottom of the third. Junior Rhi Kliesing drew a lead-off walk and was scored in the next at bat by senior Alex Reynolds who laced an RBI double to the left-center gap. With one out, freshman Mellissa Dumezich lined a hard hit directly into the forehead of Clark in the circle. Reynolds scored on the play and Clark was okay, but left the game and was relieved by Sarah Vertelka. Dumezich later crossed the plate in the inning off of an illegal pitch to give the Aggies a 4-1 lead.
Amanda Jobe's two-run home run in the fourth and Ingle's solo shot in the fifth evened the game at four apiece.
Junior Macie Morrow and junior Kelsey Spittler drew back-to-back RBI walks, and May hit a grand slam to right field to end the game.
Freshman Rebecca Arbino in the sixth and earned the win after one inning of work. She forced a groundout and struck out two in the frame.
Vertelka (5-10) was saddled with the loss. She gave up eight runs (two earned) on six hits, walked six and added two K's.
Reynolds, Orsak and Schwirtlich each went 2-for-4 on the day. Reynolds had a double and two RBIs, while Orsak and Schwirtlich each added an RBI. May was 1-for-2 with three walks and four RBIs.
The Aggies play the second of the two-game series with Kansas tomorrow at 11 a.m.
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