Vidales’ two homeruns push White past Maroon, 5-2

COLLEGE STATION – Junior Tori Vidales slugged a pair of homeruns as White defeated Maroon, 5-2, in Texas A&M Softball's annual Maroon and White Series Thursday evening at the Aggie Softball Complex. With the win, White take a 2-0 advantage in the series.
 
In the top of the third, Maroon loaded the bases with a pair of two-out singles from sophomore Samantha Show and freshman Sarah Hudek, before sophomore Riley Sartain reached on an error. Freshman Blake-Ann Fritsch singled to left field, driving in Show and Hudek to give Maroon a 2-0 lead.
 
Vidales responded in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-run homer after a base hit from junior Kristen Cuyos.
 
White secured the win in the bottom of the 8th when freshman Kelbi Fortenberry reached first on a bunt and Cuyos singled through the left side, before Vidales to hit a walk-off three-run homerun.
 
Junior Trinity Harrington got the start for the White team, giving up two unearned runs on six hits in four innings. Junior Lexi Smith recorded the win after she struck out four and only allowed two baserunners on zero hits in four innings of work.
 
Sophomore Samantha Show gave up just three hits in five innings of work for the Maroon team. Freshman Payton McBride was saddled with the loss, allowing four hits in three innings.
 
The Aggies will return to action Monday for game three at 4:30 p.m. at the Aggie Softball Complex.
 
To learn more about Texas A&M softball, log on to 12thMan.com or follow @AggieSoftball on Twitter.
 
Head Coach Jo Evans quotes
 
On tonight's win for White...
"I thought the pitchers threw really well. Each of those kids went out there and commanded their pitches. You know with Payton [McBride] it's just tough because you have to face Tori Vidales again after she has seen you several times. I thought Payton threw well. She gave up that home run and that's going to happen sometimes. All in all, we had seven innings of really great pitching and had opportunities for both teams to win the game. These pitchers in two games have all given their team a chance to win the game and that's what you ask of those kids."
 
On Lexi Smith replacing Trinity Harrington in the top of the fifth...
"It was a great decision by the players. I thought it was perfect timing to go in. I was really pleased to see Trinity Harrington come out tonight and be comfortable, be relaxed, throw that good drop ball and throw ground balls. I thought she looked so much better than the night before. She's just really got herself together and I'm proud of that. It was a good decision to put Lexi in to end that game, in the last three innings or so. She pitched really well, I thought her placement was great. She mixed her speeds, she was able to throw a changeup for a strike and she kept the Maroon hitters off balance."