Softball Blanks Long Island, 3-0

Sunday, March 20

Clearwater, Fla.

8:30 AM

Texas A&M

26-7

Long Island

8-23

Long Island

Texas A&M

Mar 20, 2011 | Softball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

March 20, 2011

Final Stats

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The No. 22 Texas A&M softball team (26-7) picked up its eleventh shutout of the season with a 3-0 victory over Long Island (8-23) in the final day of the USF The Game Tournament, Sunday at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.

"I'm pleased with our kids," head coach Jo Evans said. "We're not going to run-rule every team. This was a hard-fought game. Mel (Dumezich) was incredible this weekend. She controlled the ball. You've got pitching specialists that aren't always as great athletes. Mel, though, she's a great athlete."

The Aggies picked up the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth when Dumezich slammed a ball to center field that bounced off of the fence. The sophomore hurler had time to round the bags to third base on the play before freshman Emily Albus entered to pinch run.

Freshman Nicole Morgan stepped up and grounded out to the second baseman, picking up an RBI sacrifice as Albus crossed home for the 1-0 run.

Dumezich had her first hit of the game, a double down the left field line, in the bottom of the second. She was left stranded in the inning. Sophomore Brittany Walker got as far as third in the next inning, slapping a ball to the third baseman and beating the throw to first for a base hit.

Walker took second on a sacrifice groundout by junior Rhi Kliesing singled through the right side and sent Walker to third.

A&M surged ahead in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore Meagan May led off with a single chipped short down the third base line, outrunning the throw to first. Freshman Kaydee Rayburn, running for May, reached second on a sacrifice groundout by freshman Amber Garza.

Dumezich singled through the left side, advancing to second on the throw from left and sending Rayburn in for a 2-0 lead. Morgan singled to center field to score Dumezich and give the Aggies their final 3-0 score. Long Island was unable to respond.

The win went to Dumezich (14-4) who threw her seventh shutout of the season, fanning eight batters and giving up no runs on three hits. Blackbird pitcher Sarah Reynolds suffered the loss, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and striking out four in six innings.

A&M was 5-0 on the weekend, run-ruling four teams. Up next, the Aggies return home to host Sam Houston State in a midweek game Wednesday at the Aggie Softball Complex at 6 p.m.

The team will then enter conference competition, playing two games against Baylor this weekend. Saturday's contest will be played in Waco at 2 p.m. Sunday's matchup will be back in College Station with a 3 p.m. first pitch. For more information on A&M softball, log on to AggieAthletics.com.