No. 19 Aggies Split Games in Day One of the Kajikawa Classic

Friday, February 11

Tempe, Ariz.

3:00 PM

Texas A&M

1-0

Cal State Fullerton

1-1

Cal State Fullerton

Texas A&M

Feb 11, 2011 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Texas A&M Athletics

Feb. 11, 2011

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -

The No. 19 Texas A&M softball team upended Cal State Fullerton, 6-2, before falling to No. 14 Oregon, 5-0, at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., Friday.

Despite two late hits, the Aggies were unable to rally from an early 4-0 deficit to defeat the ranked Ducks and earn a second win in day one of the Kajikawa Classic.

Oregon's designated player Jess Moore connected for a two-RBI single in the bottom of the first inning to give the Ducks an early 2-0 lead. Catcher Ashley Kivett stepped up three batters later and added another two-RBI single to the board, sending Moore and Christie Nieto home for a 4-0 tally.

The Aggies were unable to get on base until the top of the fifth when Senior Kelsey Spittler connected for the first hit for A&M, a single up the middle, followed by a single to left-center by freshman Nicole Morgan. Sophomore pitcher Mel Dumezich struck out swinging before junior Kelsea Orsak drew a walk to load the bases.

Sophomore Sydney Shannon stepped up to the plate to give the Aggies their first score of the game, but was struck out swinging. Junior Natalie Villarreal got behind the ball in the next at-bat, but a quick right fielder grabbed the line drive and three were left stranded with Oregon leading 4-0.

In the bottom of the inning UO's Sam Pappas got a piece of the first pitch and sent it sailing out of the park to push the Ducks' lead to 5-0.

The Aggies rallied in the top of the sixth when sophomore Lauren Schwirtlich struck out swinging, but reached first on a passed ball. Senior Rhiannon Kliesing joined her on the bag when she took a hit to the elbow on a pitch. Both advanced one base on a passed ball by the catcher during Spittler's at bat, but the left fielder and Morgan struck out to end the inning.

In game one of the tournament, the Aggies quickly grabbed the lead after allowing a single run by the Titans in the top of the second. Spittler cleared the bases with a grand slam over the center field fence in the bottom of the third to give the Aggies a 4-1 lead.

Morgan followed Spittler into the box, popping a single into center field and advancing to second on the throw. Freshman Kaydee Rayburn entered to run for Morgan, crossing the plate on an error by the shortstop when sophomore Sydney Shannon grounded into play.

Cal State Fullerton nabbed the first run of game one in the second inning when center fielder Torrie Anderson popped a sacrifice fly out to Aggie freshman right fielder Sydney Shannon, pushing Titan pinch runner Jena Rubio home.

Kliesing stepped up with two outs in the bottom of the fourth and powered a home run over right-center field. Spittler followed her with a long single up the middle before freshman Emily Albus drew a walk. An error at second base during Villarreal's at-bat loaded the bases. Albus was thrown out in a fielder's choice when Walker's bunt was thrown to second base, ending the inning with three runners stranded.

In the top of the sixth Titans' Nicole Johnson reached after being hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a fielder's choice and a single by right fielder Leesa Harris. Johnson crossed home plate on a wild pitch for Fullerton's second and final run of the game.

Shannon added one more hit to the Aggies' tally in the bottom of the inning, a single down the left field line. She was left stranded, and after a three-up, three-down top of the seventh, the A&M softball team finished their first game of the 2011 season with a 6-2 win.

The Aggies take on No. 16 BYU tomorrow at 10 a.m. CST, followed by a contest with top-ranked Arizona at 12:30 p.m. Log on to www.AggieAthletics.com and www.RadioAggieland.com to follow the action live.