Texas A&M
Texas
Dumezich Delivers 1-0 Walk-Off Win Against No. 16 Texas
Apr 07, 2010 | Softball
April 7, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M freshman Melissa Dumezich hit a walk-off RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift No. 20 Texas A&M to a 1-0 victory over No. 16 Texas before a crowd of 1,281 on Wednesday night in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown at the Aggie Softball Complex.
Dumezich scored senior Macie Morrow from third in just the second Aggie hit of the game, while sophomore pitcher Rebecca Arbino threw a two-hit shutout to tally her ninth blank of the season.
The Aggies (32-9, 4-2 Big 12) snapped the Longhorns' (32-9, 5-1 Big 12) eight-game winning streak and shutout their second straight opponent at home this week. A&M also raised the State Farm Lone Star Showdown trophy and gained half a point in the standing to narrow the margin to 6.5 points - 5.0 points.
"I told our youngsters tonight before the game, `You're going to be a part of a crowd and an atmosphere that no one else in college softball gets to be a part of and when we walk away with the win, you're finally going to get it,' and that's what our team did tonight," exclaimed A&M head coach Jo Evans.
"Macie set the table and I've never been more proud of a kid than Mel, because she comes every day, works hard and plays hard. When Texas called a timeout, I walked up to her and said, `You hit one for Whiting, Ind.,' and she had a big grin on her face. After the game, when she came in, she had tears in her eyes and that's what it's all about."
In a scoreless pitcher's duel, Texas put its first batter of the fifth inning on base via a hit by a pitch. Nadia Taylor was the first player moved into scoring position by either team when she was sacrificed to second. In the next at bat, Tallie Thrasher crushed a line drive to left center, but junior Kelsey Spittler stretched out and snagged the ball, also doubling off Taylor on second.
"Spittler got an amazing read on the ball Thrasher hit and did a great job of laying out and catching it," explained Evans. "Mel had to get up there too (to catch Spittler's throw to second)."
Courtney Craig tallied the first hit of the game in the top of the sixth, which was a two-out double down the left field line. A&M center fielder, Kelsea Orsak then caught a fly ball at the warning track in right center to keep the game deadlocked, 0-0.
In similar fashion, freshman Lauren Schwirtlich led off the bottom of the sixth by slapping a hit down the left field line and legging it out for a double. Texas freshman right-hander Blaire Luna, however, forced two strikeouts and a groundout to get out of the inning unharmed.
The Aggies broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the seventh as Morrow drew a one-out walk to start the rally. The Sugar Land, Texas, native stole second on a strikeout, and an errant throw by the Horns' catcher allowed Morrow to advance to third before Dumezich delivered the hard-hit, game-winning blow up the middle.
Arbino (17-6) struck out three and was just three over the minimum number of batters faced to earn the win in the circle.
"Becca was fantastic and gave us a chance to win the game," said Evans. "I loved how Becca handled herself. She was a tremendous leader and she was all about our team. She made great pitches to get outs."
Luna (19-5) picked up the loss after giving up just two hits, one run (unearned) three walks and fanning 12 in six and two-third innings of work.
"Luna was a fantastic pitcher who moved the ball well, but what I love is that we didn't give up," Evans commented. "This win was a huge boost and helps us with momentum going into Oklahoma this weekend."
The Aggies continue their five-game homestand this weekend with a pair of games against the 11th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners. Game times are 2 p.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday.
