COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M softball team swept McLennan CC, 11-0 and 13-2, Tuesday evening at the Aggie Softball Complex in the Aggies' final fall doubleheader.
In game one, the Aggies scored in all but two frames. Kelbi Fortenberry led the game off with a double to left field and came around to score on a Kaitlyn Alderink sacrifice fly.
In the second inning, Payton McBride and Dani Elder reached base on a pair of singles and were plated when Gabby Moreno, who went 3-for-3 on the night, singled to left center.
A sacrifice fly from Riley Sartain scored Tori Vidales, who reached on an infield single in the third.
In the fourth inning, the Aggies tacked on five runs to extend their lead to 9-0. McBride began the frame with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and later scored on a Kayla Poynter single. After Elder and Moreno reached base, Alderink hit an infield single, scoring Elder. Vidales followed up with a two-RBI double, and Sarah Hudek capped off the inning with an RBI single to right.
Moreno continued the offensive attack in the sixth with a leadoff double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Maddie MacGrandle drove in Moreno on a groundout to second. Fortenberry ripped a two-out double, her second of the game, and later scored on an Abby Smith double.
McBride fanned six and allowed only one walk over six innings of work to earn the win. MacGrandle closed out the game without allowing a base runner in the last two frames.
In the second game, the Aggies scored in the second inning as Sarah Hudek reached base on a fielder's choice, advanced on Riley Sartain's infield single and took advantage of a throwing error to score. Kristen Cuyos hit a sacrifice fly to right, plating Sartain.
Milligan showed her speed in the third inning as she beat out an infield single, quickly stole second and later scored on a single up the middle by Alderink. Samantha Show drove in Alderink on a sacrifice fly to right.
The Maroon & White put up big fifth and sixth innings, scoring nine runs off eight hits.
In the fifth, Alderink drove in Milligan on an infield single, before Abby Smith hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Alderink. The Aggies scored two runs on an RBI single to right by Sarah Hudek and a throwing error.
In the sixth, Erica Russell sent a double to left allowing Cuyos to touch home, prior to Poynter roping a two-RBI single up the middle. With the bases loaded, Alderink was hit by a pitch, and Vidales drew a four-pitch walk for the Maroon & White's final run.
Randi Carol Phillips got the nod to start the game and earned the win after giving up just one run with a strikeout in four innings of work. Hannah Mayo earned the save, tossing three innings with three strikeouts.
The Highlassies scored a run in the fourth on a RBI fielder's choice from Emily Klanika and in the sixth on a RBI single from Genisa Carter.
Texas A&M returns to action Thursday with game three of the Maroon and White Series, scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Live stats can be found online at www.12thMan.com.
To learn more about Texas A&M softball, log on to 12thMan.com or follow @AggieSoftball on Twitter.
Texas A&M Quotes
Head Coach Jo Evans
On tonight's performance…
"I thought we played really good defense. I thought we looked sharp out there playing error-free ball. Our team is just maturing and growing and you can see that. I thought our young players did a nice job at the plate tonight. I just felt like our youngsters played with more confidence tonight than they have so far. I love seeing that."
On what she saw this fall…
"I liked our defense. I think we're showing that we're a team that can make plays, routine plays and some tough ones. I think we showed some bright spots in our pitching with our returners. I thought they pitched well. I think our youngsters can get better command of the strike zone. It's great that they got opportunities out there. I thought offensively we hit the ball well. We hit better this fall than we did last fall. We're showing some maturity and growth in our ball club."
In game one, the Aggies scored in all but two frames. Kelbi Fortenberry led the game off with a double to left field and came around to score on a Kaitlyn Alderink sacrifice fly.
In the second inning, Payton McBride and Dani Elder reached base on a pair of singles and were plated when Gabby Moreno, who went 3-for-3 on the night, singled to left center.
A sacrifice fly from Riley Sartain scored Tori Vidales, who reached on an infield single in the third.
In the fourth inning, the Aggies tacked on five runs to extend their lead to 9-0. McBride began the frame with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and later scored on a Kayla Poynter single. After Elder and Moreno reached base, Alderink hit an infield single, scoring Elder. Vidales followed up with a two-RBI double, and Sarah Hudek capped off the inning with an RBI single to right.
Moreno continued the offensive attack in the sixth with a leadoff double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Maddie MacGrandle drove in Moreno on a groundout to second. Fortenberry ripped a two-out double, her second of the game, and later scored on an Abby Smith double.
McBride fanned six and allowed only one walk over six innings of work to earn the win. MacGrandle closed out the game without allowing a base runner in the last two frames.
In the second game, the Aggies scored in the second inning as Sarah Hudek reached base on a fielder's choice, advanced on Riley Sartain's infield single and took advantage of a throwing error to score. Kristen Cuyos hit a sacrifice fly to right, plating Sartain.
Milligan showed her speed in the third inning as she beat out an infield single, quickly stole second and later scored on a single up the middle by Alderink. Samantha Show drove in Alderink on a sacrifice fly to right.
The Maroon & White put up big fifth and sixth innings, scoring nine runs off eight hits.
In the fifth, Alderink drove in Milligan on an infield single, before Abby Smith hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Alderink. The Aggies scored two runs on an RBI single to right by Sarah Hudek and a throwing error.
In the sixth, Erica Russell sent a double to left allowing Cuyos to touch home, prior to Poynter roping a two-RBI single up the middle. With the bases loaded, Alderink was hit by a pitch, and Vidales drew a four-pitch walk for the Maroon & White's final run.
Randi Carol Phillips got the nod to start the game and earned the win after giving up just one run with a strikeout in four innings of work. Hannah Mayo earned the save, tossing three innings with three strikeouts.
The Highlassies scored a run in the fourth on a RBI fielder's choice from Emily Klanika and in the sixth on a RBI single from Genisa Carter.
Texas A&M returns to action Thursday with game three of the Maroon and White Series, scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Live stats can be found online at www.12thMan.com.
To learn more about Texas A&M softball, log on to 12thMan.com or follow @AggieSoftball on Twitter.
Texas A&M Quotes
Head Coach Jo Evans
On tonight's performance…
"I thought we played really good defense. I thought we looked sharp out there playing error-free ball. Our team is just maturing and growing and you can see that. I thought our young players did a nice job at the plate tonight. I just felt like our youngsters played with more confidence tonight than they have so far. I love seeing that."
On what she saw this fall…
"I liked our defense. I think we're showing that we're a team that can make plays, routine plays and some tough ones. I think we showed some bright spots in our pitching with our returners. I thought they pitched well. I think our youngsters can get better command of the strike zone. It's great that they got opportunities out there. I thought offensively we hit the ball well. We hit better this fall than we did last fall. We're showing some maturity and growth in our ball club."