March 16, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format 
CLEARWATER, Fla. -
On a six-game winning streak, the No. 22 Texas A&M softball team (20-6) faces seven opponents in Tampa and Clearwater, Fla., this week, including five in the University of South Florida (USF) The Game Tournament.
The Aggies play two games Thursday in Clearwater before the tournament, against Liberty at 10 a.m. and Jacksonville at 12:30 p.m. A&M's first game of the tournament is against Buffalo at 11:30 a.m. on Friday and will follow with a 4:30 p.m. game against host USF. A&M will play two games on Saturday, starting with a 9 a.m. matchup with Colorado State and following with a 2 p.m. contest against Florida A&M. The tournament ends Sunday with an 8:30 a.m. game vs. Long Island.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live stats and live audio will be provided for every game this season on AggieAthletics.com. Fans can listen to all of A&M's games live this weekend on 95.1-3 The Zone HD. Log on to RadioAggieland.com for more information.
LAST TIME OUT
The Aggies hosted the Texas A&M Invitational, sweeping the competition with a 5-0 record on the weekend. The Aggies slugged 16 home runs, eight doubles and a triple in five games, totaling 51 hits and 45 runs. Senior Rhi Kliesing hit .700 on the weekend, plating 6 runs on seven hits, four of them bombs. She scored seven times herself. Junior Natalie Villarreal hit two grand slams in the final two matchups of the tournament, pounding three home runs and three doubles in the weekend overall. In the circle, redshirt junior Lindsey Sisk and sophomore Mel Dumezich split appearances. Sisk garnered one shutout in three complete games, fanning 12 batters and allowing only one earned run in 19 innings for a 0.47 ERA. Dumezich struck out 10 batters in the same amount of innings, and allowed two earned runs for a 1.80 ERA. Combined, the hurlers allowed only four runs in five games by their opponents.
SCOUTING LIBERTY
The Flames are 7-5 on the season. The team was 39-18 overall and a conference-second 13-5 in Big South play in 2010. Leading the Flames in 2011 is junior Kelly Strickland. She has started in all 12 games and holds a .313 batting average, going 10-for-32 with two home runs and four RBI. Pitcher Katrina Johnson (3-3) maintains a 1.28 ERA. The sophomore has thrown 27 strikeouts in 38.1 innings pitched. This is the second meeting between the two teams. A&M played the Flames in Boca Raton, Fla., in 2009, ending in a 1-0 Aggie victory.
SCOUTING JACKSONVILLE
The Dolphins are 15-9 in 2011, sweeping Delaware State in a double header at home last weekend. In 2010 the team was 33-23 overall and 10-10 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Sarah Simon leads the team this year with a .318 batting average, 14 RBI and 11 runs on 21 hits, including four doubles, a pair of triples and three long balls. Sarah Sigrest holds a 7-3 record from the circle with a 0.97 ERA in 17 appearances. She has struck out 70 batters in 79.1 innings of work and has allowed 11 earned runs, collecting four shutouts and two saves. This is the first time the Aggies will play Jacksonville.
SCOUTING BUFFALO
The Bulls (3-14) were 1-4 at the FAU Tournament last weekend. Jessica Griffin is batting .255 this season, going 12-for-47 with two doubles and seven RBI. Holly Johnson (2-4) records a 5.14 ERA. She has thrown 31 strikeouts and allowed 20 earned runs in 35 innings in the circle. This is the first meeting between the Aggies and the Bulls.
SCOUTING SOUTH FLORIDA
Host school USF is 15-13 on the season. The team was 24-29 overall and 9-13 in the Big East Conference in 2010. Leading the Bulls in 2011 is Gina Kafalas. She has started in all 28 games and holds a .372 batting average, going 35-for-94 with 6 RBI, 23 runs and a double. Stephanie Medina follows closely with a .347 average, and leads the team with five doubles, four home runs and 23 RBI. Sara Nevins (6-3) maintains a 1.67 ERA. The hurler has thrown 97 strikeouts in 71.1 innings pitched. This is the fifth meeting between the two teams, who haven't gone head-to-head since 1994. A&M leads the all-time series 4-0.
SCOUTING COLORADO STATE
The Rams are 5-19 in 2011, spending last weekend at the USF Under Armour Showcase in Clearwater, where they were 1-4. In 2010 the team was 29-20 overall and 7-8 in the Mountain West Conference. Chelsea Biglow leads the team this year with a .339 batting average, 13 RBI and 8 runs on 19 hits, including three doubles and two home runs. Alexa Cash holds a 1-6 record from the circle with a 5.39 ERA in 13 appearances. She has struck out 28 batters in 49.1 innings of work and has allowed 38 earned runs. The Aggies lead the all-time series against the Rams 7-2. The last time the teams played was in 2000.
SCOUTING FLORIDA A&M
The Rattlers are 11-3 this season. Jasmin Donaldson is batting a team-leading .382 this season, going 26-for-68 with four doubles, six stolen bases and five RBI. Tenisha Dixon follows close behind with a .370 batting average. She tallies 19 runs on 27 hits, including two doubles, four triples and two home runs, and has earned nine RBI. Jenn Lindsey (4-6) records a 3.28 ERA. She has thrown 52 strikeouts and allowed 33 earned runs in 70.1 innings in the circle. This is the third meeting between the Aggies and the Rattler, with A&M leading the all-time record 2-0.
SCOUTING LONG ISLAND
The Blackbirds are 7-18 in 2011, going 3-2 at the USF Under Armour Showcase last weekend. In 2010 the team was 39-18 overall and a conference-leading 17-3 in the Northeast Conference, earning their eighth trip to the NCAA Tournament. Emily Kakuska leads the team this year with a .333 batting average in 25 starts, garnering 10 RBI and 9 runs on 24 hits, two of them long balls. Sarah Reynolds holds a 4-9 record from the circle with a 5.18 ERA in 15 appearances. She has struck out 43 batters in 74.1 innings of work and has allowed 72 earned runs. This is the first time for A&M to face Long Island on the field.
ON DECK
The Aggies return home to host Sam Houston State at the Aggie Softball Complex on Wednesday, March 23, before plunging into conference play. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
AGGIES IN THE POLLS
Texas A&M started the season ranked in the top 25 in both preseason national polls, and is currently ranked No. 23 by ESPN.com/USA Softball, and 22nd by USA Today/NFCA. A&M's remaining opponents appearing in the polls are 9/8 Oklahoma, No. 12/14 Texas, No. 14/17 Nebraska, No. 17/13 Missouri, No. 18/15 Baylor, No. 20/18 Oklahoma State and No. 21/22 Texas Tech. In addition, Kansas is receiving votes.
BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL
A&M was picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Aggies received 54 points and finished behind preseason favorite Oklahoma (79), Missouri (71) and Texas (69). A&M was selected as the frontrunner for three consecutive years, from 2006-08, and was picked sixth last season. Oklahoma State placed fifth with 50 points, followed by Baylor (40), Texas Tech (33), Nebraska (26), Iowa State (15) and Kansas (13).
AGGIE SOFTBALL ON TV
The Aggies are one of four Big 12 teams to play in front of a national audience in 2011. A&M's contest against Texas on May 4 will air live on FSN. The game is set for a 6:30 first pitch.
GET IT LIVE
Live audio and live stats are featured in every A&M game in 2011. Several contests will be aired on Sports Radio 1150 AM. All other games will be broadcast live on AggieAthletics.com and on 95.1-3 The Zone HD, making it available worldwide on any iPhone, iPod Touch, Blackberry or PDA free of charge. Log on to RadioAggieland.com for more information.