Texas A&M
33-12
Lamar
21-20
#23/24 Aggies Crush Cardinals 13-0 In Five Innings
Apr 15, 2015 | Softball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The No. 23/24 Texas A&M softball team (33-112, 8-7 SEC) took control early, scoring eight in the first inning to down Lamar (21-20), 13-0.
Junior Katie Marks got the start in the circle, allowing just two hits in five innings of work, adding three strikeouts and walking just one in her twelfth win on the year.
The Aggie bats were hot from the get go, with sophomore April Ryan knocking a single through the right side and freshman Tori Vidales drawing her first walk of the night to put two on. Sophomore Celena Massey loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch with freshman Ashley Walters at the dish.
A short hit to third base form Walters prompted the Lamar defender to make the throw home and then a throw to first beat Walters for what appeared to be a double play. The umpire ruled that the Cardinals' catcher was off the bag, allowing Ryan and Vidales to put the first two runs on the board.
Freshman Kristen Cuyos drew a walk, followed by an RBI double from freshman Kayla Ober to put two on with two gone and a 3-0 lead. Freshman Erica Russell took her base on the third walk of the inning to fill the bags. A single straight up the middle from senior Brittany Clopton sent home the fourth run and kept the bases full.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Ryan stepped up to the plate and hit her fifth dinger of the season, bringing everyone home and giving the Ags an 8-0 lead to close out the opening barrage.
Marks retired the Lamar side in order in the second, giving the Aggie offense another go quickly.
Massey wasted no time putting something on the board, crushing her second home run of the season in the leadoff position. Walters followed with a double to center field and Cuyos reached on an error to put runners on the corners. Ober stepped up with another RBI, this time a single through the right side, to score Walters.
Lamar made a pitching change and the Aggies added another hit, another single up the middle from Clopton, but couldn't scratch any more across.
Holding a 10-0 lead, neither team managed any offense in the third inning.
The Cardinals added their second hit in the top of the fourth inning, sending a single through the left side but left the runner stranded on first.
Texas A&M tacked on the final three runs in the home half of the fourth. Junior Alex Masek led off with a single, advancing to second on a throwing error from the Lamar pitcher. A ground out from Clopton moved Masek to third and a single through the left side from freshman Erin Houthoofd sent the junior sprinting home. Lanphear went yard for the seventh time this season, scoring Houthoofd and putting the final cherry on top of a great offensive night.
Up 13-0, Marks and the Aggie defense made quick work of the last three outs, putting the first two away on two pitches. After the first walk issued by Marks all night, a ground out to Vidales closed the game for good.
With the victory, the Aggies eclipsed last season's win total and Marks and senior Rachel Fox have matched their combined victory total from 2014.
Coach Evans Post Game Sound
“When you get an opening you have to run through it. I thought we did a good job of taking advantage and stroking the ball, taking walks early and scoring. It was really nice to see the offense break out. We don't get games very often where you can relax and enjoy yourself in the dugout, it's usually a heated battle. I loved to see the way the team came out hitting.
Let's Hear a Hullabaloo
…for going, going, gone. Junior April Ryan had her first grand slam of the year and the first four-run homer for the Ags since returning from the first tournament in California. Ryan led the Aggies with two hits, two runs and four RBIs at the plate tonight. Gig 'em, April!
Coach Evans on Ryan:
“April Ryan was terrific tonight. She went out there and went with the pitch. Her first pitch was a hard hit, her second at-bat was the grand slam. It's nice to see her up there feeling comfortable.”
Up Next
The Aggies head to Louisiana to take on the Bayou Bengals of LSU this weekend, with the first pitch coming at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. Follow along with live stats at 12thMan.com and @AggieSoftball on Twitter for all the hits, pitches and everything in between during the 2015 softball season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Marks, Katie (12-1)
L: Napoli, Laura (15-12)
Batting:
2B: Walters, Ashley 1 ; Ober, Kayla 1
HR: Ryan, April 1 ; Lanphear, Cali 1 ; Massey, Celena 1
RBI: Ryan, April 4 ; Houthoofd, Erin 1 ; Lanphear, Cali 2 ; Massey, Celena 1 ; Ober, Kayla 2 ; Clopton, Brittany 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ryan, April 2 ; Houthoofd, Erin 1 ; Vidales, Tori 1 ; Lanphear, Cali 1 ; Massey, Celena 2 ; Walters, Ashley 1 ; Cuyos, Kristen 1 ; Ober, Kayla 1 ; Russell, Erica 1 ; Masek, Alex 1 ; Clopton, Brittany 1
HBP: Massey, Celena 1
