#23 Softball Wins 10-Inning Marathon over South Carolina

Friday, March 20

College Station

1:00 PM

Texas A&M

22-7, 4-3

South Carolina

21-10, 2-5

South Carolina

Texas A&M

Mar 20, 2015 | Softball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 23 Texas A&M softball team sealed their second walk-off victory of 2015 to take the first game of the series against South Carolina, 3-2. With the win, the Aggies moved to 22-7 overall and 4-3 in conference play.

South Carolina got on the board first with a solo shot homer on the first pitch thrown by A&M's starter, senior Rachel Fox. Fox recovered to end the inning with three straight strikeouts.

The Gamecocks held a 1-0 victory until the bottom of the second, when junior Breanna Dozier paid South Carolina back with a first pitch bomb of her own.

The game remained tied at one all until the top of the fifth inning when the Gamecocks put two runners on base before a single to center field sent home the go-ahead run. With runners in scoring position on first and second, the Aggie defense stopped the SC attack with a ground out and picking off the runner at third base.

A&M evened the score in the bottom of the sixth on the second solo home run of the day for the Maroon & White, this one coming off the bat of freshman Tori Vidales, her seventh of the year. The Aggies loaded the bases after freshman Kristen Cuyos walked, a fielder's choice from Dozier and freshman Ashley Walters's first hit of the day. The ball club was unable to capitalize but exited the inning with the score tied.

The seventh inning came and went with no score and the Aggies headed into extra innings for the third time this season.

Fox and the Aggies sent the Gamecocks down in order in the top of the eighth, with Walters getting under to sky-high pop ups behind home plate to end the inning. Cuyos led off with a walk and the Aggies put two runners in scoring position after a double to the left field wall from Walters but the Aggies were unable to scratch any runs across.

The ninth inning went by scoreless from both teams and the Aggies neutralized a threat from South Carolina after a single and stolen base landed a runner on second base.

With two gone in the bottom of the tenth, junior Cali Lanphear recorded her first hit of the game, a double that hugged the right field line. Sophomore Abby Donnell sent one to left field, putting runners in the corners for the Aggies. Freshman center fielder Erica Russell stepped up to the plate and reached first on a fielder error by the Gamecock first baseman, giving Lanphear enough time to speed home for the game-winning run.

Coach Evans Post Game Sound
“We'll take a win, put it in our back pocket. It was an ugly way to end up winning the game but we had so many opportunities. Breanna Dozier looks great right now and I'm so excited about her. We've been talking about needing her in the lineup for two years and to see her get the opportunity to pinch hit, do a great job, get a start and run with it, it's great. She has so much potential it's scary. Ashley Walters also did a great job, she competed with two strikes and does not strike out very often. She makes them throw strikes at her and for her to get up there and knock that ball was great.”

Let's Hear a Hullabaloo…
… for a going the distance. Senior Rachel Fox pitched the entirety of the ten inning outing on Friday, keeping her cool after allowing an early home run and a couple hits. Fox kept competing and threw her game to keep the Aggies in the game. Despite allowing nine hits, Fox kept the opponents to only two runs while fanning nine. Gig 'em, Rachel!

Coach Evans on Fox:
“We had so many opportunities and, I'll tell you, Rachel Fox threw a gem out there. She got us out of some huge jams. She fought so hard and did a great job for us. Early on they were hitting her well but she really stuck to her guns and held her ground. I loved her composure and poise out there. No one is more competitive than her and she earned that one.”

Up Next
The Aggies will take on the Gamecocks in game two at 5:30 p.m. The game can be heard on 1620 AM as well as through the RadioAggieland app and will be broadcast on the SEC Network. For all the hits, pitches and everything in between during the 2015 softball season, follow @AggieSoftball on Twitter and at 12thMan.com.