#20 Aggies Top #9 Wildcats 6-3 to Clinch Series

Saturday, March 7

College Station

3:00 PM

Texas A&M

19-4, 2-0

Kentucky

13-5, 0-2

Kentucky

Texas A&M

Mar 07, 2015 | Softball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – In a much different game than Friday, the No. 20 Texas A&M softball team scored six runs on seven hits to defeat the No. 9 Wildcats 6-3 on Saturday afternoon.

Senior Rachel Fox played her second complete game of the weekend, allowing seven hits on Saturday. Fox fanned fifteen batters and allowed only four walks over the course of the weekend, along with only four runs.

Unlike the previous game, both teams got on the board early and continued on an offensive tear early.

Kentucky started off hot, scoring on an RBI ground out with two runners in scoring position in the top of the first. Not to be outdone, the Aggies evened the score in the bottom of the first.

Junior Alex Masek and freshman Tori Vidales were walked back to back to give the Aggies runners on first and second. With two outs, junior Cali Lanphear hit a hard ball to the shortstop for an RBI single, sending Masek rounding the bases for home.

With the score even at one all, Kentucky took back the lead on a solo shot homer in the top of the second. Of the seven home runs the A&M pitching staff has given up this season, six have been solo shots.

Freshman Kristen Cuyos got on base first for the Aggies in the bottom of the second after being hit by a pitch. Moving into scoring position on a passed ball, Cuyos found her way home on a double that hugged the right field line from senior Brittany Clopton.

The Wildcats went down 1-2-3 in the top of the third with the score tied at 2-2. The Aggies took the final lead of the game in the bottom of the third and opened a four run gap between the two ball clubs.

After Kentucky made a pitching change, Vidales opened the inning by taking her base after being hit. A single through the left side from Sophomore April Ryan put runners on first and second for the Aggies and Lanphear was walked to load the bases. Freshman Ashley Walters lined into a double play that also caught Vidales out, putting runners on second and third.

Sophomore Reagan Boenker was next up for the Aggies and walked on a 3-1 count to load the bases again. A&M took a 3-2 lead on a single through the left side from Cuyos, her second hit of the afternoon, scoring Ryan.

With two outs, junior Breanna Dozier stepped up to the plate to pinch hit. After the Wildcats returned to their original pitcher, with the bases loaded, Dozier stepped up and knocked a shallow ball to left field for a double, sending all three runners speeding home before advancing to third on the throw for a 6-2 lead.

The next three inning passed scoreless. The Aggies threatened in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases on a walk and singles from Cuyos and Dozier but couldn't capitalize on the offensive position.

Kentucky was able to chip away at the Aggies' lead early on in the top of the seventh, scoring one on an RBI double. A deep single to left field was picked up by Clopton and quick throws from Vidales to Ryan caught the runner at second. With a Wildcat on third, Fox continued to put her defense in the best possible situation and after another strikeout, Ryan picked up a ground ball for the final out.

Riding a 12-game win streak, A&M clinched the series win and moved the all-time series record to 3-2 in favor of the Maroon & White.

Coach Evans Post Game Sound
“When they got runners on in the first inning, Rachel held it to one run and our kids went out and played really good defense. Every time they scored, we answered right back so it helped Rachel Fox stay comfortable and she never pitched from behind. I thought she did a great job and I thought we did a good job base running out there.”

Let's Hear a Hullabaloo…
… for stepping up to the challenge. Junior Breanna Dozier came in to pinch hit with the bases loaded and came up big with a three-run double. Today's game gave Dozier eight RBIs on seven hits on her first double of 2015. Gig 'em, Breanna!

Coach Evans on Dozer:
“I'm really happy for Breanna. She's been getting some opportunities and it's nice to see her step up and get her job done. I know our team was excited for her.”

Up Next
The Aggies finish the series with Kentucky tomorrow, with first pitch coming at 12:02 Sunday. The game can be heard on 1620 AM and the RadioAggieland app and it will be broadcast on SEC Network. Live stats can be found at tamu.statbroadcast.com or TAMUstats.com on your mobile device. Follow the Aggies on Twitter @AggieSoftball for all the latest updates, hits and pitches from the 2015 season.