Referred to as the quarterback of the outfield by head coach Jo Evans, Russell is known for flashing the leather and making momentum-shifting plays when her team needs her most. Last season, the Bryan, Texas, native made SportsCenter's Top 10 by robbing No.1 Florida State's Ellie Cooper of a homerun to keep the game scoreless. The Aggies went on to defeat the Seminoles, 2-0. Erica Russell crashes into the wall while making the catch against Lamar last season (Photo: Glen Johnson)
Offensively, Russell hit .250 with 31 hits including four doubles, a triple and two home runs and successfully stole eight bases in eight attempts.
"Erica is the energy behind what we do. She makes big plays and gets you off the field and in the dugout ready to hit. She's that spark plug that we count on," Coach Evans added.
Milligan enters her junior year as the school record holder for the most stolen bases in a season with 54 and as one of the quickest players on Texas A&M's roster. As a freshman in 2016, the Vidor, Texas, native scored 59 runs, the second highest total in program history. She continued to show her speed in 2017 as she led the team in stolen bases with 22 and scored 31 times.
Milligan was light outs offensively in the last two months of the 2017 season, leading the team with a .382 average and an on-base percentage of .466. The lead-off hitter worked hard in the offseason and her improvements were evident in her fall campaign as she posted a .481 batting average with 13 hits in 27 at bats and recorded 10 stolen bases.
"It is exciting to have Keeli feeling confident and comfortable. She's the catalyst for us in the lead-off spot. When she gets on, she almost always scores," Evans said. "She's back to being very aggressive on the bases, her speed looks good and she's competitive. Keeli's worked very hard to get herself in a position where she can have a great year." Milligan led the team with a .382 average in the last two months of the 2017 season (Photo: Matt Osborne)
Hudek didn't seem to have a problem transitioning from college baseball to softball as she delivered a .291 batting average and crushed four home runs and 16 doubles in her first season of competitive softball at Texas A&M. After spending her time on the mound at Bossier Parish CC, she made the move to right field for the Aggies and recorded a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
"Once we started playing I never even thought about Sarah being a baseball player. She made a great transition. She plays the game with confidence, is very passionate about the game and has fun playing the game. Her competitiveness is contagious," the head coach shared. "She acts more mature than a sophomore and has a very high softball IQ." Sarah Hudek posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage (Photo: Josh Gateley)
Fortenberry proves to be a valuable asset off the bench for the Aggie offense with her hitting and speed on the bases. The lefty-hitter delivered eight hits including four that she stretched to doubles. Fortenberry's agility was shown as she went a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts last season and crossed the plate 16 times.
"Kelbi is lights out at the plate right now. I think a lot of that has to do with her own confidence but she seems to have made the biggest improvement from last year to this year." Evans said on the sophomore's adjustments over the offseason.
The East Bernard, Texas, native put up impressive numbers in the fall, holding a team-high batting average of .545 over 22 at bats and led the Aggie offense with six doubles.
Fortenberry recorded four doubles as freshman (Photo: Thomas Campbell)
Fritsch appeared in 53 games, primarily as a pinch runner, scoring 17 runs and stealing three bases in her first season in Maroon & White. The La Grange, Texas, native posted a .478 batting average on 11 hits and two doubles in the fall. Fritsch scored 17 times and stole three bases as a freshman
With a swift outfield that should cover a lot of ground and produce at the plate, Texas A&M softball rises as a primary threat to opponents on their 2018 schedule.
Coach Evans' No. 6 ranked ball club begins play Feb. 9 at 3 p.m. in the Aggie Classic in College Station.
