No. 19 Softball Falls to BYU, Arizona in Day Two

Saturday, February 12

Tempe, Ariz.

10:00 AM

Texas A&M

1-2

BYU

2-3

Brigham Young

Texas A&M

Feb 12, 2011 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Texas A&M Athletics

Feb. 12, 2011

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The No. 19 Texas A&M softball team fell to No. 16 Brigham Young (BYU), 7-2, before losing to No. 1 Arizona, 6-3, Saturday, Feb. 12 at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.

In the battle against Arizona, the Aggies took a 2-1 lead early in the fifth, but were unable to contain the top-ranked Wildcats in a four-run sixth inning.

The A&M offense drew two walks in the top of the second, in senior Kelsey Spittler and freshman Amber Garza, but was unable to push them home. In the bottom of the inning Arizona's Lini Koria picked up the first run of the game, crossing the plate on her own home run over the center field fence to give the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead.

Freshman Cassie Tysarczyk collected the first hit for the Aggies, a single to center field, in the top of the third. The San Antonio, Texas, native's first career hit sent junior Natalie Villarreal to second, but both were left stranded.

A&M threatened to rally in the fourth when freshman Lauren Schwirtlich, was batted to second on a long single by junior Kelsea Orsak, but the inning ended with three fly catches by the Arizona defense.

The Aggies retired the side in the bottom of the inning and entered the top of the fifth trailing by one. Sophomore Meagan May reached first on her first hit of the season, a single to center field. Freshman Kaydee Rayburn entered to pinch run and stole second before senior Rhiannon Kliesing joined her on the bags on a walk.

Spittler reached second in the next at-bat when the second base player overthrew first, sending Rayburn home to tie the game, 1-1. With two outs, freshman Amber Garza singled up the middle and scored senior Andrea Tovar, who was pinch running for Kliesing, and brought the game to a 2-1 A&M advantage. Garza stole second, putting two runners in scoring position, but Orsak struck out for the third out.

Arizona's Kristen Arriola jumped at the first pitch in the bottom of the inning, powering it over the left field fence for Arizona's second home run of the day.

In the bottom of the sixth, Brittany Lastrapes hit a high double to left field, just out of Spittler's reach. The left fielder's throw to second base was wide and Lastrapes advanced to third on the error. Lauren Schutzler landed on first with a short infield single. Brigette Del Ponte hit a zinger to Villarreal at second, who bobbled the ball and picked up an error while Lastrapes ran home.

Stacie Chambers followed with a sacrifice bunt that advanced Schutzler and Del Ponte. Koria joined them on base with a walk. Arriola hit an RBI single to left field, sending Schutzler home. Karissa Buchanan walked and forced Del Ponte across the plate, before Chelsea Suitos was hit by a pitch that also forced a run. The inning ended with Arizona leading 6-2.

In an attempt to narrow the score, Kliesing led off in the top of the seventh inning and slammed a home run over the right field fence and brought the deficit to 6-3. Morgan got on base with her second walk of the game, but pinch runner freshman Emily Albus was left stranded in the loss.

In game one against the Cougars, the Aggies were outhit 3-11. Albus picked up the first hit of the game with one out in the bottom of the first when she singled down the third base line. May hit into a double play behind her, however, and ended the inning.

BYU took the first two runs of the game on an RBI single by Kristi Delahoussaye and an RBI double by Jessica Fitu in the top of the third.

The Aggies rallied in the bottom of the inning when redshirt junior Lindsey Sisk was walked. Schwirtlich pinch ran for Sisk and was advanced to second when Garza also drew a walk. Both stole during Tysarczyk's at-bat, who was put out at first with a throw from second and earned an RBI when Schwirtlich ran home. Villarreal singled over the shortstop's head and sent Garza home to tie the game at 2-2.

Kliesing had the final hit of the game for the Aggies when she singled to left center in the bottom of the sixth. Tovar pinch ran, but was stranded after stealing second when Cougar pitcher Paige Affleck struck out three.

The Cougars pushed ahead to 3-2 in the top of the sixth, scoring on a sacrifice hit. Carly Duckworth led off in the top of the seventh with a long ball over the left field fence to expand the gap 4-2. JC Clayton, Jessica Dugas, and Fitu each singled and later scored. The Aggies were unable to make a comeback, and the game ended with a 7-2 BYU victory.

Sisk (1-1) suffered the loss, while Affleck (2-2) picked up her second win of the season in game one. Mel Dumezich (0-2) took a second loss of the season against the Wildcats, and Arizona's Kenzie Fowler advanced to 3-0 with the win.

The Aggies play Bradley in the final game of the Kajikawa Classic, Sunday at 10:30 a.m. CST. Listen to the game live on Sports Radio 1150 AM, or log on to AggieAthletics.com.