Texas A&M
34-16, 9-11
Florida
46-4, 15-4
#25 Softball Can't Hold Off Florida, Falls 9-5
Apr 25, 2015 | Softball
GAINESVILLE, Fl. - The No. 25 Texas A&M softball team (34-16, 9-11 SEC) took an early lead against Florida (46-4, 15-4 SEC) Saturday afternoon before dropping a 9-5 decision.
Junior Katie Marks started in the circle, fanning one batter in her first appearance and allowing two runs before re-entering in the fifth and striking out two more. Senior Rachel Fox would be the pitcher of record after a grand slam in the fourth gave the Gators the lead and eventual win.
After a scoreless first inning, sophomore Celena Massey led off with a solo blast over the left field wall to put the Aggies ahead 1-0 early in the second. Back-to-back singles put junior Breanna Dozier and freshman Ashley Walters on base but both were left stranded.
Marks retired the Florida side in order to send the Aggie offense back out. A sky high ball from freshman Tori Vidales landed her on second before quickly moving into scoring position on third after a wild pitch. Junior Cali Lanphear sent a chopper up the middle for her first hit and RBI on the day, as Vidales added the second Aggie run of the day. At bat for the first time since her homer, Massey squared up and crushed the ball, which tipped off the outfielder's glove over the wall for her second dinger in as many innings. Florida made a pitching and catching change to stop the Aggie onslaught and end the inning.
Leading 4-0 after another three up, three down inning from the Gators, Walters knocked a second pitch homer over the center field wall to stretch the Aggie lead to five after three and a half innings.
The Gators chipped into the Aggie lead in the home half of the fourth after a two-run homer over the right center wall, prompting senior Lauren Ainsley to enter in relief of Marks. After issuing a walk, senior Rachel Fox left the bull pen and took the circle for the Aggies.
After issuing three walks, a grand slam gave the Gators their first lead of the game at 6-5. A sacrifice fly scratched another run across to push the Florida lead to two runs.
Trailing for the first time on Saturday, Lanphear found her way on base on a single to shallow right field but the Aggies couldn't advance her.
After a lead off solo home run for the Gators in the fifth, Marks re-entered to finish the game for A&M and ended the inning with two straight strikeouts.
Florida tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth, an RBI double to right center field, setting the final score for the game at 9-5.
Coach Evans Post Game Sound
“We put ourselves in a challenging situation. I thought Katie Marks did a good job. We needed someone to get a stop but I'm proud of her coming back in and doing the job she did. Our hitters did a great job to give our pitchers some run. It's easier to throw against the number one team in the country when your offense puts up five runs.”
Let's Hear a Hullabaloo
…for stepping up to the plate. Sophomore Celena Massey has worked her way back into the starting lineup and showed why on Saturday, going 2-for-3 at the plate with two homers and three RBI. Her two bombs doubled her season total and came in consecutive innings and two-straight at-bats. Gig 'em, Celena!
Coach Evans on Massey:
“Celena looked really good today. I was excited, she just got a hold of the first one and sent it out. The next one, we were looking for a hit and run but the kid sent it over the wall in right field. It was a great job by her, especially considering what she was trying to hit behind the runner. I'm so proud of that kid, for how hard she's worked, for getting in the lineup and being a great team player. She just works hard to help us win. She has just performed recently.”
The series will close Sunday with the first pitch coming at noon, with the game broadcast on the SEC Network + and 1150 AM. 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: Delanie Gourley (9-1)
L: Fox, Rachel (19-12)
Batting:
HR: Massey, Celena 2 ; Walters, Ashley 1
RBI: Lanphear, Cali 1 ; Massey, Celena 3 ; Walters, Ashley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Vidales, Tori 1 ; Lanphear, Cali 1 ; Massey, Celena 2 ; Walters, Ashley 1
Batting:
2B: Nicole DeWitt 1 ; Kirsti Merritt 1 ; Lauren Haeger 1
3B: Kirsti Merritt 1
HR: Lauren Haeger 1 ; Bailey Castro 1 ; Taylore Fuller 1
RBI: Kirsti Merritt 1 ; Lauren Haeger 3 ; Bailey Castro 1 ; Taylore Fuller 4
SF: Kirsti Merritt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kelsey Stewart 1 ; Kirsti Merritt 1 ; Francesca Martinez 1 ; Lauren Haeger 1 ; Bailey Castro 1 ; Jessica Damico 1 ; Kayli Kvistad 1 ; Chelsea Herndon 1 ; Taylore Fuller 1
