Texas A&M
24-8, 6-4
Alabama
24-7, 7-3
#5 Alabama Run-Rules 23rd-Ranked Aggies in Game One
Mar 28, 2015 | Softball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The No. 23 Texas A&M softball team was run-ruled during a 13-0 contest to No. 5 Alabama in the first game of the Aggies' second SEC road series on Friday. With the win, the Crimson Tide (24-7, 7-3 SEC) lead the series 1-0, and the Aggies (24-8) fall to 6-4 in conference play.
The Aggies had a difficult time on both sides of the ball against the Tide, garnering only two hits and no runs. Senior Rachel Fox (13-5) had to face her second loss in conference play after relinquishing six earned runs, six hits and seven total runs through the course of a near complete three innings. Fox struck out two batters and walked four, three of which contributed to two runs in the first inning.
Senior Lauren Ainsley came in to pitch for one inning, relieving Fox near the close of the third inning. During her period in the circle, Alabama had two more hits and three runs. Finishing out the remainder of the game was freshman pitcher Kayla Ober, whose time on the mound mirrored that of Ainsley's with two hits and Alabama's final three runs.
Alabama wasted no time in the first with their first batter sending one over the wall for a homerun. After three walks, two singles and an error on a hard hit ball, the Crimson Tide managed to get in two more runs before Tori Vidales, Ashley Walters and Brianna Dozier closed out the first with a double play.
Sophomore April Ryan posted the first hit for the Aggies in the top of the second with a single flying up and flying just over the glove of Alabama's second baseman. She was left stranded on base as the top of the second came to an end, with all three outs coming on strikeouts from Alabama's Alexis Osorio.
Fox delivered a short and sweet second inning for the Aggies, going three up and three down. Vidales snagged one off the bounce and sent it to Dozier for the first out. Fox took the handled the last two with a strikeout and a lightning-quick catch off the bat.
The third inning saw A&M's second hit from freshman Erica Russell after a strong fight at bat, resulting in a single to left field. The Aggies could not get their feet planted on base afterwards, leaving them with two hits, no runs and an error.
Alabama's 3-0 advantaged stretched to 7-0 in the bottom of the third on four hits and runs to match them. The Tide brought in four-straight runs after four-at bats, taking advantage of two wild pitches, a passed ball and a steal. Outs came from Ryan's speedy catch and short toss to first baseman Dozier, Ainsley's only strikeout shortly after coming in, and Dozier owning a foul fly catch.
Aggies saw no action in the top of the fourth after two strikeouts and a fly ball. Alabama took another run and hit from Ainsley, before freshman Kayla Ober came on to relieve her in the circle. Alabama managed only three hits in the inning but the Aggies committed three errors, leading to the Tide's last six runs of the game.
Coming into the fifth, A&M put two on base after Ryan was walked and hard hit single by Masek. Unfortunately for the Aggies, runners on second and first were left stranded after a strikeout to Russell and a groundout to exile Clopton and end the ball game.
Coach Evans Postgame Sound
“It was a tough night for us. Too many walks, too many errors, just never gave ourselves a chance to be in the game. Alabama took advantage of every opportunity we gave them. We need to put this behind us and get after it tomorrow.”
Let's Hear a Hullabaloo…
…for Dozier defense. Of the 12 outs in the four innings against Alabama, Breanna, the Rowlett, Texas native, lent a hand in four of the seven outs that came from defensive plays, which include three groundouts and a catch in foul territory. The remaining five outs came from strikeouts and a batter's ball hitting another runner.
Up Next
The Aggies square off with the Crimson Tide for the second game of the series. Watch the action on SECNetwork+ or follow along on @AggieSoftball on Twitter for all the hits, pitches and everything in between during the 2015 softball season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Alexis Osorio (11-3)
L: Fox, Rachel (13-5)
Batting:
HR: Danielle Richard 1
RBI: Danielle Richard 1 ; Haylie McCleney 2 ; Marisa Runyon 2 ; Andrea Hawkins 1 ; Leona Lafaele 2 ; Chaunsey Bell 1 ; Kallie Case 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Danielle Richard 2 ; Demi Turner 1 ; Haylie McCleney 2 ; Danae Hays 2 ; Rachel Bobo 1 ; Andrea Hawkins 1 ; Leona Lafaele 2 ; Chaunsey Bell 1 ; Kallie Case 1
SB: Demi Turner 1 ; Danae Hays 1 ; Rachel Bobo 1
