No. 22 Aggies Take Sam Houston State, 4-1

Wednesday, April 13

Huntsville, Texas

6:30 PM

Texas A&M

31-11

Sam Houston State

15-25

Texas A&M

Sam Houston State

Apr 13, 2011 | Softball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

April 13, 2011

Final Stats

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Rallying to break a three-game losing streak, the No. 22 Texas A&M softball team (31-11, 3-4 Big 12) won 4-1 over Sam Houston State (15-25, 7-10 Southland), Wednesday at the Bearkat Softball Complex.

"I don't care if [our wins] are ugly or pretty or anywhere in between, I just want to win," head coach Jo Evans said. "I know our kids wanted to win this ballgame. I thought we did a great job. All year I think we've done well with two outs and I think we did a good job coming back after one run."

The Bearkats had an effective first inning, picking up a 1-0 lead with an RBI single through the left side, but the Aggies were ready to rally in the visitors' half of the second.

After two quick outs, junior Kelsea Orsak slapped a hit down the third base line and reached when the first baseman dropped a throw from third. Freshman Emily Albus hit a second consecutive slap to third, beating the throw for the Aggies' first base hit of the night.

A second error, on the throw from third, put sophomore Brittany Walker on first to load the bases before Natalie Villarreal sent a shot through the left side past the glove of a diving second baseman. The redshirt junior's single earned two RBI as Orsak and Albus crossed home, unearned.

The inning ended with A&M in a 3-1 lead when freshman Cassie Tysarczyk singled up the middle behind Villarreal, sending Walker home from second for the third unearned run of the second inning.

The deficit grew in the fourth when sophomore designated player Mel Dumezich sent a 3-1 pitch over the fence in center field for her fifth home run of the season. The solo blast was the only long ball of the game.

In a late attempt to rally, third baseman Shelbi Tucker popped a single into left field and stole second to put herself in scoring position. Tucker took third on a sacrifice bunt before right fielder Erin Burford sent a ball in right-center. A&M's Orsak made sure that Tucker's run didn't count as she made a diving catch from center field to end the game with the Aggies in a 4-1 lead.

"That was a pretty terrific catch," Evans said. "She got a good read on it. That kid can cover a lot of ground. We see that every day in practice. She's a kid that likes to get out there and run and leave her feet and get after it."

Dumezich (17-7) picked up the win, entering in the bottom of the fourth before fanning seven batters in four innings of work. The Whiting, Ind., native was responsible for the first seven outs in her time in the circle, striking out six batters swinging and catching a line drive. SHSU's Tomi Garrison (12-13) drew the loss, giving up four runs on six hits and striking out five.

The Aggies host No. 12 Nebraska this weekend in a two-game conference series. First pitch Saturday is set for 4 p.m., while Sunday's game is slated for a 12 noon start.