Home Runs Put No. 22 Softball at 2-0 in Day One of TAMU Invitational

Friday, March 11

College Station

3:00 PM

Texas A&M

16-6

San Diego State

9-12

San Diego State

Texas A&M

Mar 11, 2011 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Texas A&M Athletics

March 11, 2011

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Five home runs lifted the No. 22 Texas A&M softball team over San Diego State before a late hitting surge gave the Aggies a second win on the day, against Louisiana Tech Friday in day one of the Texas A&M Invitational at the Aggie Softball Complex.

The Aggies (17-6) defeated the Aztecs (9-12), 9-1 in a five-inning run rule to start the day. They finished with a 3-1 victory over Louisiana Tech (6-17).

The Aztecs grabbed the first run of game one, on an RBI single up the middle by right fielder Jessica Camello in the top of the second, but A&M was quick to answer.

In the bottom of the inning with two outs, senior Kelsey Spittler took first on a fielder's choice. Freshman Nicole Morgan stepped into the box behind her and connected for her second home run of the season, giving the Aggies a 2-1 lead when she cleared the wall in left field.

Sophomore Brittany Walker drew a walk and sped home on a long double to left-center by junior Natalie Villarreal to advance the score to 3-1. Freshman Cassie Tysarczyk slugged a long ball over right field, her fourth of the season, and picked up two RBI when she pushed Villarreal home with her.

Leading 5-1, senior Rhi Kliesing added a homer to the tally when she hit a laser directly over center. The Aggies ended the inning with a 6-1 jump on SDSU.

Back-to-back home runs in the fourth gave A&M its final 9-1 score against the Aztecs. Kliesing went yard a second time with a ball over left for her 10th home run of the season, picking up two RBI. May sent another bomb sailing over center behind Kliesing.

Freshman Amber Garza added a hard double down the right field line but was left stranded. San Diego State was unable to answer and the Aggies earned their 16th win of the season.

"I thought our kids did a great job stepping in there the whole game," head coach Jo Evans said. "Every time we had two outs they felt really comfortable and were still attacking the ball."

Sophomore Mel Dumezich (9-4) was credited with the win over SDSU, fanning two batters and allowing only one earned run on five hits in the effort. Aztec pitcher Bailey Micetich (5-7) took the loss, giving up six runs on four hits and striking out two batters in 1.2 innings in the circle.

A&M rallied from a one-run deficit in game two to earn the team's second victory of the night, defeating Louisiana Tech 3-1.

In the top of the third, the Lady Techsters took advantage of a throwing error for the first run of the game. Catcher Allie Geisler singled through the left side and sent shortstop Michelle Jones, who reached third on the error, home for the 1-0 lead.

After leaving four runners stranded in the first four innings, the Aggies entered the fifth still down by one run. Freshman Emily Albus bunted down the third base line and beat the throw to first for a single.

Villarreal tallied her second double of the night, a zinger to left center that scored Albus to tie the game. With two outs, Kliesing slugged a third home run of the day, her 11th this season, to the light pole at right-center. The four-bagger gave the Aggies a 3-1 lead.

The Lady Techsters had no response in the sixth and seventh innings as the Aggies shut down six-straight batters to hold the lead at the end of the game.

Redshirt junior Lindsey Sisk (8-2) picked up the win from the circle. The right-handed pitcher threw four strikeouts and allowed no earned runs on the night. Louisiana Tech's Meghan Krieg (2-10) suffered the loss, hurling 14 strikeouts and giving up three earned runs on four hits.

"I told our pitchers, `I want to see you backup a good performance from the last game (against UTSA)' and they both did that," Evans said. "They went out there and really set the tone for our team."

The Aggies will face Mississippi Valley State tomorrow at 3 p.m. before a rematch with San Diego State at 5:15 p.m. Log on to AggieAthletics.com for more information on Texas A&M softball.