Softball Splits Opening Day at SoCal Collegiate Classic

Friday, February 6

Los Angeles, Calif.

12:30 PM

Texas A&M

1-0

Utah

0-1

Texas A&M

Utah

Feb 06, 2015 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Texas A&M Athletics

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The No. 24 Texas A&M softball team cruised to a 5-1 victory over the University of Utah before falling 13-0 to No. 7 UCLA in the opening day of the 2015 season.

A&M opened the day with a victory over the Utah Utes, head coach Jo Evans's alma mater, now led by one of her former players Amy Hogue. After four scoreless innings with only one hit from the Aggies from junior Celena Massey in the top of the fourth, a grand slam from junior Cali Lanphear broke the tie en route to a 5-1 A&M win.

Sophomore Reagan Boenker opened the inning with a leadoff walk on a full count, followed by a infield single from freshman Erica Russell that skipped past the third baseman and shortstop for her first collegiate hit. Another walk let sophomore April Ryan loaded the bases just in time for a first pitch blast from Lanphear to clear the bags and give the Aggies a 4-0 lead.

Two quick infield singles from freshman Kristen Cuyos and junior Breanna Dozier set the Aggies up with two on base before a Utah pitching change. Boenker was walked to load the bases for the second time in the season opener. Russell let a line drive go straight at the third baseman who tried to snag Cuyos but wasn't quick enough to catch the newcomer.

With the bases still loaded, freshman Ashley Walters stepped up to the plate and hit a long double that just clipped the top of the right field wall, bringing home Cuyos. A three pitch strikeout sent Ryan packing and the Aggies into the bottom of the sixth with a 5-0 lead.

Holding their 5-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh, Cuyos knocked down a line drive, picked up the bobble and threw a laser to first, beating the runner by a hair for the first out of the inning. Cuyos heard her name called again after getting under a fly ball for the second out.

An infield single and deep double to center field put two Utes on base and a follow up single gave them their first plate. With one out away from the win and a 5-1 lead on the scoreboard, Fox stayed cool on the mound and took the next batter to a full count before a pop up to second base caught by Ryan ended the game.

The Aggies opened their second game of the day strong, with senior pitcher Lauren Ainsley retiring one Bruin batter swinging and two impressive catches by Ryan and Russell. However, the UCLA onslaught started in the bottom of the second and couldn't be stopped before the Aggies were run ruled 13-0 in the fifth.

The seventh-ranked Bruins scored seven in the bottom of the second, with 10 consecutive runners reaching base at one point. Two RBI singles, a two RBI single and an RBI double brought home seven before junior Katie Marks was brought on to relieve Ainsley. Another two RBI singles crossed the plate before Boenker was able to staunch the bleeding, pulling down a line drive to first to close the inning.

After another scoreless top for the Ags, freshman Kayla Ober took over in her first collegiate action at pitcher. UCLA loaded the bases but Ober managed to get herself out of a jam, picking up a slap sent right at her & picking off the runner at home. A chop past Vidales at third was snatched up by Ober who was seconds too late as a runner crossed the plate to make the score 8-0. A&M escaped the inning after Vidales grabbed a drive to third & caught a runner out at first.

Walters smoked the second double of her young career, this one to left center, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Unfortunately she was left stranded as the Aggies couldn't capitalize on their runner in scoring position heading into the bottom of the fourth.

The UCLA assault continued as an RBI single brought the score to 10-0 and a base clearing homerun saw three more Bruins cross the plate before the Aggies could stem the bleeding.

An effort to avoid the run rule started with an infield single from Clopton and Ryan joined her on the bags on an error by the UCLA second baseman. A pop up by Ober was caught down the left field line to end the game at 13-0.

Worthy Of A Hullabaloo
Junior Cali Lanphear opened her 2015 season with a grand slam against Utah. Coincidentally, the powerful hitter notched her first homerun at Easton Field two years ago against UCLA. That homerun was the first of many for her in California and spurred a freshman season that saw her named a freshman All-American. Gig 'em, Cali!

@AggieSoftball Quick Hits
• Lanphear's first game grand slam continued her out of this world California play, hitting her first collegiate homer on Easton Field
• Fox pitched a complete game against Utah, with four strikeouts in 29 batters faced
• Six of the seven Aggie newcomers saw action on opening day

Up Next
The Aggies continue play at the SoCal Collegiate Classic tomorrow, taking on San Diego State at 12:30 and getting a rematch with No. 7 UCLA at 5:30. Tune in to AM 1150 and the Radio Aggieland app to hear every pitch live. Follow along with live stats at 12thMan.com and @AggieSoftball on Twitter for all the hits, catches and everything in between during the 2015 softball season.