#23 Softball Splits Games on Second Day of Aggie Classic

Saturday, February 14

College Station

3:00 PM

Texas A&M

7-2

Eastern Michigan

0-5

Eastern Michigan

Texas A&M

Feb 14, 2015 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Texas A&M Athletics

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 23 Texas A&M softball team split games on the second day of action at the Aggie Classic, defeating Eastern Michigan 8-0 in six innings before falling to Penn State 4-3 in an extra inning thriller.

The Aggies got off to a hot start offensively against the Eagles, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Senior Cali Lanphear took her base after being hit by a pitch, followed by a single up the middle from freshman Tori Vidales. Sophomore April Ryan was walked to load the bases in time for junior Breanna Dozier to be walked, bringing home Lanphear for the first run of the day. Sophomore Reagan Boenker came up next and hit a powerful two RBI double to center field to give A&M a 3-0 lead heading into the second inning.

Eastern Michigan's batters went down 1-2-3 to open the second inning and a leadoff bunt from senior Brittany Clopton gave the Aggies a runner on first to start the bottom of the second. Vidales fired off a single to left field, sending Clopton to second, before Ryan followed up with an RBI single to center field and calling Clopton home for a 4-0 jump on the Eagles.

The next three innings passed scoreless before the Aggies picked up steam and run-ruled EMU in the bottom of the sixth.

Lanphear's leadoff walk put her on first base before Vidales hit her second homerun of the weekend, sending both runners circling the bags and giving the Aggies a six-run lead over the Eagles. EMU walked Dozier, with freshman Kayla Ober coming in to pinch run, before the final play of the game. Boenker stepped up to the plate before hitting a ball searing over the centerfield wall for an RBI homer, her first of the season, and the final nail in Eastern Michigan's coffin.

Senior Rachel Fox pitched the complete game, allowing one hit in only 19 at bats, with five strikeouts.

Up next, the Aggies faced Penn State in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, which would turn into a battle lasting eight innings.

Senior Katie Marks started the game for the Maroon & White, sending the first three Nittany Lions batters packing. The Aggies took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after freshman Ashley Walters was hit by a pitch and freshman Kristen Cuyos was walked, both with the bases loaded.

Marks continued her balanced pitching in the second inning, sending Penn State down 1-2-3 and not allowing a single hit, but the Aggies were unable to get anything going on offense, falling quickly on two strikeouts and a ground ball to first base.

The Nittany Lions came out charging in the top of the third, scoring three to take their first lead of the game at 3-2. Sophomore Abby Donnell came on to relieve Marks, striking out the final batter and stopping the Lion attack.

A&M scored the tying run on an unearned plate by Vidales, after a throwing error sent her speeding across the bases.

After two consecutive walks in the top of the fourth, Fox took over for Donnell and got the Aggies out of a jam, stranding two Penn State runners.

Neither team would score for the remainder of regulation, with Ryan holding on in the end of the seventh for a long at-bat to send the game into extra innings.

Penn State scored in the top of the eighth on after a dropped ball at first base sent the runner on second base home. The Aggies were unable to get anything going, despite putting runners in scoring position on second and third, and dropped their second contest of the day, 4-3, to fall to 6-3 in 2015.

Coach Evans Postgame Sound
“[Rachel Fox] threw a gem against Eastern Michigan. It was really a work of art. She threw 58 pitches in six innings, not once throwing more than 12 pitches in an inning. That's the goal as a pitcher. I thought she was absolutely terrific out there and gave herself a chance to be fresh and ready to go in the second game. She set the tone for us and our kids scored some games, played good defense behind her but, to me, she was the star of the show.”

Let's Hear a Hullabaloo…
… for the homeruns. Freshman Tori Vidales hit her second of the weekend, third of her young career, against Eastern Michigan. Sophomore Reagon Boenker hit the game-ending run, an RBI homer over the center field wall, in the Aggies' 8-0 six inning victory over the Eagles. Gig'em, ladies!

Up Next
The Aggies wrap up play at the Aggie Classic with a 12:15 game against Missouri State. Every game at the Aggie Softball Complex during the 2015 season will be available to watch on SEC Network + or tune in live using the Radio Aggieland app to hear every pitch. Follow along with live stats at 12thMan.com and @AggieSoftball on Twitter for all the hits, pitches and everything in between during the 2015 softball season.