Texas A&M
40-12, 13-8
Auburn
38-14, 11-12
No. 11 Texas A&M Completes Sweep of No. 12 Auburn on Senior Day
Apr 29, 2018 | Softball
On Senior Day, Vidales went deep for the first time with a two-run bomb to center in the first, the first homer in Davis Diamond history. Vidales' 60th career dinger also pushed the senior past Megan Gibson (443) to become the Texas A&M all-time leader in total bases. Two innings later, Vidales did it again with another two-run blast. The Aggies would tag on three more runs before all was said and done.
Fellow senior Lexi Smith (9-2) started in the circle for Texas A&M. She worked into the seventh, fanning three, yielding six hits and not allowing any walks. In the seventh, she threw one pitch before Peyton McBride came in to get the final three outs.
Auburn (38-14, 11-12 SEC) gave the ball to Kaylee Carlson (19-6) for the second time in the series. The senior allowed four Aggie base hits and earned the loss, giving up five earned runs and striking out a pair.
B1 | Keeli Milligan began the frame with a base knock and moved into scoring position on her 27th stolen base of the season, setting the stage for Vidales' milestone two-run homer. A&M 2, AU 0
B3 | In the third, it was Sarah Hudek who reached on a single to center directly preceding Vidales' second homer of the game. After a Walters single, the Tigers pulled Kaylee Carlson from the contest. The Aggies proceeded to load the bases with no outs but were only able to scrap together one more run, coming on a wild pitch. A&M 5, AU 0
B4 | The fourth frame began with a single from Milligan followed by double to the gap from Hudek. With one down, Ashley Walters delivered, singling down the right field line. The second run came around on a Riley Sartain single through the left side. A&M 7, AU 0
T6 | Auburn put up their first run in 13 innings against Aggie pitching, beginning the frame by reaching on an error. An RBI double to left accounted for Auburn's only run in the contest. A&M 7, AU 1
Top Offensive Players:
Tori Vidales | 2-for-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB
Keeli Milligan | 2-for-4, BB, SB
Ashley Walters | 2-for-3, RBI, BB
Pitching Breakdown:
Lexi Smith (9-2, 1.13) | W, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 K, 0 BB
Payton McBride | 1.0 IP, H
- The top four in the Aggie order all recorded multi-hit games and accounted for seven Aggie runs. Combined, they hit 8-for-15 on the day.
- Aggie pitching allowed just two runs in the three-game set.
- With her pair of long balls, Vidales now has seven multi-homer games in her Aggie career.
- Davis Diamond drew 6,322 fans on its opening weekend.
- In the series, the Aggie pitching staff held the Tigers to 2-for-14 hitting with runners in scoring position.
- In their final home regular season game, the seniors reached base in 7-of-12 plate appearances.
FINAL | Aggies complete the sweep over No. 12 Auburn, 7-1!#12thMan pic.twitter.com/GzRzwnOTlF
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) April 29, 2018
Today's attendance: 1,995
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) April 29, 2018
Weekend Total: 6,322
The #12thMan is nothing short of amazing! Thank you for helping us open Davis Diamond! pic.twitter.com/oTauMoibVr
E1 | 2-0 A&M @TorvilleSlugger breaks the school's career record for total bases with this homer, as the Aggies jump on top in the first!
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) April 29, 2018
?? - https://t.co/qQZMJfwq7l#12thMan pic.twitter.com/plxsicmdgI
The Aggies make a pair of great plays to keep Auburn scoreless in the second.
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) April 29, 2018
?? - https://t.co/qQZMJfwq7l#12thMan pic.twitter.com/CTTI4IYbVW
She's done it again! @TorvilleSlugger gives the Aggies a 4-0 advantage!
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) April 29, 2018
?? - https://t.co/qQZMJfwq7l#12thMan pic.twitter.com/dehSKniSQ9
A well deserved standing ovation for @s_lex23 on Senior Day!
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) April 29, 2018
?? - https://t.co/qQZMJfwq7l#12thMan pic.twitter.com/l9TcXVTtfN
"When the lights are the brightest, she steps up." @Coach_Jo_Evans talks about @TorvilleSlugger's senior day performance. #12thMan pic.twitter.com/UxOjp8bXLI
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) April 29, 2018
"I wouldn't change one thing about the weekend." @Coach_Jo_Evans on Texas A&M's successful weekend at Davis Diamond#12thMan pic.twitter.com/SVyZWyHgQJ
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) April 29, 2018
"I couldn't ask for a better Senior Day." @s_lex23 moved to 9-2, allowing just one run in six strong innings on the mound in Sunday's 7-1 win over Auburn. #12thMan pic.twitter.com/nJS52Y1JOI
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) April 29, 2018
"Doing it with all my teammates behind me, it means a lot." @TorvilleSlugger speaks about hitting the first-ever homer at Davis Diamond & breaking the school record for career total bases.#12thMan pic.twitter.com/cugzXtvkNb
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) April 29, 2018
Texas A&M Head Coach Jo Evans
On overall thought of game today…
"I am really pleased with the way we played this weekend. I thought our defense was phenomenal. We had so many great plays and got out of some jams and we pitched really well. I really don't have any complaints whatsoever about how we played defense; it was just really solid. Offensively it was great to see us win in different ways. Win on two outs, win on a walk off and then just coming out and putting up a bunch of runs on the board. It's a great sweep for us and we really needed it. We are pushing ourselves hard to host for regionals and this is a really good step forward."
On Tori Vidales setting records and her two home runs today… "I loved it. I definitely said to her I am happy you're the one. I mean it is fitting that girl has hit so many home runs for us over the years. She has gotten so many RBI and then today to get to break the record on the total bases. I am happy for her. I mean two home runs on Senior Day. How does that happen? It happens because of Vidales. That's just who she is. When the light is the brightest she steps up."
On difference that made offensive break loose today… "I just think we did a better job making adjustments early. They were pitching us the same way the whole time and they should've because we weren't really changing our approach. Today we recognized how we were being pitched and we went out there and attacked. I was really happy to see our hitters just show a lot of confidence out there."
On the weekend at Davis Diamond…
"We could not have written this up any better. It was senior weekend, so you want to win on Senior Day and you want to win a series. We ended up sweeping the series and then you want to win on the first day at the new ball park and we did that. We wanted to get the fans in it and wanted to play the style of game that would get them to come back and appreciate the way we play. I wouldn't change one thing about the weekend. I am really grateful to have the opportunity to get in this stadium this year with these seniors and to just reap the benefits of all these peoples hard work that made this happen."
Senior Tori Vidales On her emotions today…
"At the beginning of the game when we meet with coach, she just really emphasized that we don't need to do anything different than we normally do. I think that really spoke to us to not try too hard or to do anything special and to just go out there and play the game we always do. I was able to come out there and do my thing, so I was glad that we were able to put up a lot of runs. It got us the win and a sweep."
Senior RHP Lexi Smith
On the series sweep…
"We know the series would be really big for us, we knew we had to win the series because obviously they talked about RPI, but we also wanted to bring Davis Diamond in the right way. Getting a sweep was bittersweet and it is senior weekend as well, so getting to pitch on Senior Day was really fun and I just had to be relaxed and not get to amped up because you know emotions are high. I was just relaxed and I'm really glad that we brought Davis Diamond in with a sweep."
On everyone pitching well…
"We stuck to our plan, we trust coach (Kara) Dill with our lives, and we know that every pitch she is calling we have full confidence in throwing. Coach Dill always comes up with great plans, and she is probably working 24 hours a day scouting other teams. We were just coming in there relaxed, and throw our pitches and trust are defense is what we did.
On battling and not walking batters…
"I honestly don't know, I am a competitor and I just attacked to zone more, even on 3-0 counts. I was going to let them hit it and trust my spin and let the defense work. I didn't want to put runners on that didn't need to be on, and get behind in counts and throw my pitches into contact.
The Aggies travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for a three-game series against Alabama.
Fans can follow the Aggies wherever they go by following @AggieSoftball on Instagram and Twitter or on Facebook at Facebook.com/TAMUSoftball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Lexi (9-2)
L: Kaylee Carlson (19-6)
Batting:
2B: Courtney Shea 1 ; Tannon Snow 1 ; Makenna Dowell 1
RBI: Tannon Snow 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Taylon Snow 1
CS: Makenna Dowell 1
Batting:
2B: Hudek, Sarah 1 ; Fortenberry, Kelbi 1
HR: Vidales, Tori 2
RBI: Vidales, Tori 4 ; Walters, Ashley 1 ; Sartain, Riley 1
SH: Russell, Erica 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Milligan, Keeli 2 ; Hudek, Sarah 2 ; Vidales, Tori 2 ; George, Kylie 1
SB: Milligan, Keeli 1 ; Russell, Erica 1
