#23 Aggies Fall in Late-Inning Heartbreaker in Tuscaloosa

Saturday, March 28

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

2:00 PM

Texas A&M

24-9, 6-5

Alabama

25-7, 8-3

Texas A&M

Alabama

Mar 28, 2015 | Softball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The No. 23 Texas A&M softball team led for five innings but a huge sixth from No. 5 Alabama stunned the Aggies, resulting in an 8-5 win for the Tide. With the loss, A&M (24-9) fell behind two in the series and dropped to 6-5 in conference play.

The Aggies opened with a high-powered first inning, coming off last night's one-sided outing. Senior Brittany Clopton led off with a single right up the middle and was joined on the bags by freshman Kristen Cuyos, who reached on a fielding error at third base. With two on and no outs, freshman Tori Vidales sent the ball right down the left field line for an RBI double, scoring Clopton from second.

With two runners in scoring position, freshman catcher Ashley Walters hit a single through the left side giving Cuyos the chance to cross the plate for the second run of the day. Another single from sophomore April Ryan loaded the bases with two gone and a sacrifice fly from junior Cali Lanphear sent Vidales streaking home for the final run of the first.

Junior Katie Marks got the start for the Aggies and retired the Alabama side in order in the bottom of the first.

A scoreless second inning saw both teams leave runners on base without being able to scratch one across. The Tide began to cut into the Aggie lead in the bottom of the third, scoring on an RBI single through the right side.

Freshman Erica Russell reached on a single to right center to open the fourth but was out on a double play on a ground ball from Clopton.

A solo home run to open the home portion of the fourth closed the gap to 3-2. Sophomore Abby Donnell entered to relieve starter Katie Marks and ended the inning quickly with her first strikeout and a ground out.

A&M pushed the lead back to three in the top of the fifth. Vidales and Walters got the Maroon and White started with back-to-back singles. A fielder's choice put Ryan on the bags and a throwing error from Alabama allowed Vidales to reach home for her second run of the day. After Lanphear was intentionally walked, freshman Kayla Ober stepped up to the plate in place of junior Alex Masek and hit a sacrifice fly to right field that gave Erin Houthoofd, pinch running for Walters, the time to get home and give the Aggies a 5-2 lead.

Holding a three-run advantage for the second time during the game, Donnell sent the Crimson Tide's offense down in order in the bottom of the fifth. Sydney Littlejohn repaid the favor in the visitor portion of the sixth, shutting down the Aggie momentum.

The Alabama onslaught started with a walk then a two-run homer over the right field wall. After another walk, senior Rachel Fox came on to take over for Donnell and try to stop the attack. Two more walks loaded the bags for the Tide, who scored back-to-back runs on a single and a walk to take the lead for the first time on Saturday. A final single through the right side sent the seventh and eighth runs across the plate before Fox could get the Aggies out of the inning.

With their back against the wall, A&M was unable to pull anything out and stranded Ryan on first to end the night.

Let's Hear a Hullabaloo…
…for the greater good. For the first time this season, the Aggies scored on two sacrifice flies in a single game, the first coming from junior Cali Lanphear and the second courtesy of sophomore Abby Donnell. This team play will be key to winning in the rest of the Aggies' difficult conference slate. Gig 'em, Cali and Abby!

Up Next
The Aggies will try to leave Alabama with a win in the third game of the weekend on Sunday, with first pitch coming at 1:30 p.m. 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.