Texas A&M
Texas
No. 5 Aggies Earn Spot in Big 12 Softball Championship Title Game
May 10, 2008 | Softball
May 10, 2008
Freshman Rhiannon Kliesing gave the fifth-ranked Texas A&M softball team (48-7) all the run-support it would need off a two-run blast to secure its spot in the 2008 Big 12 Softball Championship title game on Sunday with the 3-1 victory over the Texas Longhorns (28-21-2) on Saturday night at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
?I?™m excited about the way our kids played,? A&M head coach Jo Evans said. ?I thought we came out really sharp again. I thought our kids really looked good at the plate tonight. I think the thing I?™m most happy with was our execution in bunt situations and our ability to move runners.?
In the third inning, leftfielder Kelsey Spittler drew a one-out walk on four straight pitches to set up Kliesing, the Aggies?™ lead-off hitter. With a 1-1 count, Kliesing smashed her second homerun of the season over the wall in right center to score Spittler from first.
?It was nice to see Kliesing get up there and get the homerun,? Evans said. ?I?™ve been excited about her now that she?™s back in the lineup. She?™s really hitting the ball well and being aggressive at the plate.?
The Longhorns attempted to chip away at A&M?™s lead in the top of the fifth frame when centerfielder Amy Hooks punched a one-out single through the right side. Brittany Chalk was brought in to pinch-run for Hooks. Kori Cook hit a sharp grounder to Aggie third baseman Jamie Hinshaw who threw out Chalk at second, allowing Cook to reach via the fielder?™s choice. Shelby Savony then came on to pinch-hit for Crystal Saenz and sent a 2-1 pitch to right-center for a stand-up double, plating Cook. Gibson would escape the inning without further damage, striking out Desiree Williams to preserve the Aggies?™ 2-1 lead.
A&M added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Texas pitcher Meagan Denny walked Hinshaw on four straight pitches, her second free pass of the day. Aggie catcher Erin Glasco laced a single up the middle allowing Hinshaw to score from second after advancing on Holly Ridley?™s sacrifice bunt.
Gibson recorded her tenth double-digit strikeout performance of the season, and her second of the day, fanning 10 Longhorn hitters. With the victory, Gibson moved to 32-1 on the season, posting her 31st complete game. The senior All-American logged 14 innings of work in the circle today without allowing a walk.
?I thought Gibson again was good on the mound,? Evans ended. ?She scattered five hits around and they scored a run but I thought she was sharp again tonight. She used her change-up well and kept them off balance.?
Denny (20-9) was charged with the loss for the Longhorns, working six complete innings. The senior surrendered three runs on four hits. She walked three and fanned just three Aggie hitters.
The No. 1-seeded Aggies will face the No. 10-seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers in the championship game on Sunday, which will air on Fox Sports Net. First pitch is slated for noon and can be heard on Sports Radio 1150 the Zone or online at aggieathletics.com.
The A&M/Nebraska match-up will be the second time in Big 12 Softball Championship history that the two teams have faced-off in the title game. Then No. 18 Nebraska won the meeting 2-1 in 2000.
