#20 Softball Falls 3-2 in Final Game of Kentucky Series

Sunday, March 8

College Station

12:00 PM

Texas A&M

19-5, 2-1

Kentucky

14-5, 1-2

Kentucky

Texas A&M

Mar 08, 2015 | Softball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 20 Texas A&M softball team fell to Kentucky 3-2 after a late-inning rally, winning the opening SEC series 2-1.

Junior Katie Marks pitched her fifth complete game of the season and, in her first loss, allowed only four hits and walked just three batters. All three runs came on single run homers, with the Aggie pitching staff allowing only one multiple-run home run through 24 games.

Neither team was able to get on the board through the first two innings, with Kentucky striking first with a single shot homer over the center field wall. The Wildcats struck again in the top of the fourth on another home run, this one giving Kentucky a 2-0 lead.

The Aggies threatened in the bottom of the fourth, after freshman Tori Vidales was walked and a single jammed up the middle by sophomore Reagan Boenker put runners on the corners with two outs. Kentucky's Kelsey Nunley got the Wildcats out of the inning with a strikeout and forced the Aggies to leave two on base.

Freshman Erica Russell and junior Cali Lanphear both walked in the bottom of the fifth inning but the Aggies weren't able to capitalize and left both stranded, with the score remaining 2-0 in favor of the Wildcats.

Kentucky put two runners on after a stand-alone double and Marks's third walk of the day but two consecutive Ks from Marks shut down the Wildcat attack.

Junior April Ryan opened the home portion of the sixth inning with a hard hit single straight at short stop. Boenker joined Ryan on the bags after being walked and a long single to left field from freshman Kristen Cuyos loaded the bases. Freshman Erica Russell battled through a full count and several foul offs to earn an RBI walk, sending Ryan home to cut the lead to one.

Designated player Abby Donnell reached first on a fielder's choice but the Wildcats tagged lead runner freshman pinch runner Kayla Ober, in place of Boenker, out at home plate. Senior Brittany Clopton took her base after being hit by a pitch, which sent home Cuyos for the tying run.

The Aggies' late inning rally would fall short as Kentucky opened the seventh with another home run, avoiding being swept and cutting the Aggie win streak off at twelve games.

Coach Evans Post Game Sound
“We had our shot there in the sixth inning, there were a lot of good battles within the game. It's really hard in this conference to sweep anybody, you look across the board and just don't see many sweeps. I'm proud of our ball club and thought we fought really hard today. Our dugout was phenomenal and we had great energy and enthusiasm. I think the fans were treated to a really good series with our young ball club that is having fun.

Let's Hear a Hullabaloo…
… for never giving up the fight. Junior Katie Marks allowed only four hits and walked just three Wildcats in another gritty performance. Today's game was Marks's fifth complete game of the season and her first loss, bringing her ERA to 1.38 on the season. Gig 'em, Katie!

Coach Evans on Marks:
“The great thing with Katie was that all of their runs were solo home runs. Tip your hat to Kentucky who was ready to swing the bat. Our team got down two runs and could have given up but Katie Marks put them back in the game. Katie had a really good and solid pitching performance today. I feel very encouraged by her performance, she showed such great fight, especially with those two huge strikeouts to end the sixth inning.”

Up Next
The Aggies will host a midweek game against Sam Houston State on Wednesday, with first pitch coming at 6:35 p.m. 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.