COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Erica Russell's six RBI night was more than enough for the Aggies, as they took care of McLennan Community College 17-1 at The Aggie Softball Complex Thursday evening. The sophomore slugged a three run bomb in the ninth inning that capped a 3-for-3 night in which she scored and reached base four times. Pitching was superb again for the maroon and white, led by Trinity Harrington's five hitless innings and aided by Samantha Show and Kayla Ober's strong relief performance.
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The Aggies got the scoring started in the bottom of the second as five straight Aggies reached base to begin the frame. Show brought the first Aggie home with a bases loaded walk and Riley Sartain followed with a blast off the center field wall that brought in a two more. Russell matched Sartain with a two run hit of her own putting the Aggies up 5-0. A couple more RBI from Vidales and Dozier helped the Aggies hang a 7 spot on the Highlassies.
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Starting Pitcher Trinity Harrington had the McLennan lineup befuddled in her five scoreless innings of work. She kept the Highlassies off the base paths allowing no hits and just two walks. Harrington didn't allow a ball to escape the infield, fanning six and inducing nine groundballs, six of which she fielded herself.
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With the pitching on point, the offense would tack on back-to-back three run frames in the fourth and the fifth. Sartain and Russell came around to score in both innings with Sartain accounting for another RBI thanks to a double in the fifth.
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Freshman played a key role for the Aggies tonight, starting with Riley Sartain's 2-for-3 night that included three runs, two RBI, and a walk. Fellow freshman Keeli Milligan manufactured a run with aggressive base-running in the sixth, stealing second and advancing to third on a shallow flyout. Newcomer Samantha Show continued her dominance in the circle this fall with two clean innings in relief of Harrington.
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Kayla Ober took care of the final three innings on the mound. She allowed one run on as many hits and brought the Aggies record to 6-0 for the fall campaign.
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The Aggies take on division one foe Sam Houston State on Sunday in a double header at the Aggie Softball Complex. The first game starts at noon and the admission is free to all. The squad will wrap up the fall schedule with the Maroon and White series starting on Monday.
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Post Game Quotes
Erica Russell, Texas A&M Sophomore Outfielder
On her batting performance today…
"It felt really good. I was super comfortable and really prepared with what Glasco does. He told me to just take pitches and actually get strikes in the strike zone. I applied it and was more comfortable. It felt good today."
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Trinity Harrington, Texas A&M Sophomore Pitcher
On entering the 3rd inning with a 7-run lead…
"It's always a good cushion for pitchers. It's very reassuring to have points on the board. It relaxes the bit of nerves you may have going into each inning."
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Jo Evans, Texas A&M Softball Head Coach
On tonight's performance and Sunday's Sam Houston match…
"I think we continue to get better. It just reinforces that we have the right players on the field. No matter who we put out there, they're being effective and getting results. I'm pleased with that. It's really important for us to keep momentum because we're going to play Sam Houston on Sunday. They will be the first Division I team we play all fall. To feel like we're progressing and moving in the right direction and prepared to face a really good ball club makes me feel really good about what we're doing now."
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On Erica Russell's performance against McClennan…
"She worked really hard over the summer with a hitting coach and spent a lot of time getting after it. You can see. She's changed her swing, looks confident and looks comfortable and is really aggressive out there. Anytime a kid works that hard to find themselves a pitching coach in the summer and put in the time and see results, that's really exciting."
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The Aggies got the scoring started in the bottom of the second as five straight Aggies reached base to begin the frame. Show brought the first Aggie home with a bases loaded walk and Riley Sartain followed with a blast off the center field wall that brought in a two more. Russell matched Sartain with a two run hit of her own putting the Aggies up 5-0. A couple more RBI from Vidales and Dozier helped the Aggies hang a 7 spot on the Highlassies.
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Starting Pitcher Trinity Harrington had the McLennan lineup befuddled in her five scoreless innings of work. She kept the Highlassies off the base paths allowing no hits and just two walks. Harrington didn't allow a ball to escape the infield, fanning six and inducing nine groundballs, six of which she fielded herself.
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With the pitching on point, the offense would tack on back-to-back three run frames in the fourth and the fifth. Sartain and Russell came around to score in both innings with Sartain accounting for another RBI thanks to a double in the fifth.
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Freshman played a key role for the Aggies tonight, starting with Riley Sartain's 2-for-3 night that included three runs, two RBI, and a walk. Fellow freshman Keeli Milligan manufactured a run with aggressive base-running in the sixth, stealing second and advancing to third on a shallow flyout. Newcomer Samantha Show continued her dominance in the circle this fall with two clean innings in relief of Harrington.
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Kayla Ober took care of the final three innings on the mound. She allowed one run on as many hits and brought the Aggies record to 6-0 for the fall campaign.
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The Aggies take on division one foe Sam Houston State on Sunday in a double header at the Aggie Softball Complex. The first game starts at noon and the admission is free to all. The squad will wrap up the fall schedule with the Maroon and White series starting on Monday.
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Post Game Quotes
Erica Russell, Texas A&M Sophomore Outfielder
On her batting performance today…
"It felt really good. I was super comfortable and really prepared with what Glasco does. He told me to just take pitches and actually get strikes in the strike zone. I applied it and was more comfortable. It felt good today."
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Trinity Harrington, Texas A&M Sophomore Pitcher
On entering the 3rd inning with a 7-run lead…
"It's always a good cushion for pitchers. It's very reassuring to have points on the board. It relaxes the bit of nerves you may have going into each inning."
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Jo Evans, Texas A&M Softball Head Coach
On tonight's performance and Sunday's Sam Houston match…
"I think we continue to get better. It just reinforces that we have the right players on the field. No matter who we put out there, they're being effective and getting results. I'm pleased with that. It's really important for us to keep momentum because we're going to play Sam Houston on Sunday. They will be the first Division I team we play all fall. To feel like we're progressing and moving in the right direction and prepared to face a really good ball club makes me feel really good about what we're doing now."
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On Erica Russell's performance against McClennan…
"She worked really hard over the summer with a hitting coach and spent a lot of time getting after it. You can see. She's changed her swing, looks confident and looks comfortable and is really aggressive out there. Anytime a kid works that hard to find themselves a pitching coach in the summer and put in the time and see results, that's really exciting."
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