Texas A&M
Baylor
Villarreal Leads Aggies to 5-4 Win Over Baylor
Apr 15, 2009 | Softball
April 15, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M sophomore Natalie Villarreal's hit the game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to push the Aggie softball team past Baylor, 5-4, on Wednesday evening at the Aggie Softball Complex.
The Frisco, Texas, native drove in two runs in the second and with A&M down 4-3 in the sixth she capped off a 2-for-4 performance by scoring a pair of runs on a two-out long ball over the right field wall. The homer was her second of the season and four RBIs matches her career high.
"Natalie stepping up in the sixth inning to get the two-run home run was huge," said head coach Jo Evans. "She hit the ball so hard. She's really come around."
To top her success at the plate, Villarreal ended the game with a double play by making a diving catch in the infield and firing to second from her knees.
"That was a fantastic play - that was a season play," continued Evans. "Natalie's got such a great arm and she's so agile so she can throw when she's down on her knees coming up. Holly (Ridley) did a good job to be there (at second base)."
With their third straight win, the Aggies improve to 27-15 overall and 5-5 in the Big 12. The Lady Bears fall to 32-16 and 8-4 in conference play.
"I'm really proud of our team," said Evans. "We really looked sharp tonight, especially our defense, and that's one thing we've been able to count on this season. Baylor did a good job of answering back when we scored runs, but our hitters did a great job of taking walks and putting the ball in play when we needed it."
The Aggies retired the Lady Bears in order the first two innings before junior Alex Reynolds led off the bottom of the second with a single up the middle. A&M loaded the bases on two outs after Baylor pitcher Whitney Canion hit sophomore Holly Ridley on four straight balls. Sophomore Rhi Kliesing then swung on a full-count pitch, but the ball got past the BU catcher and Reynolds crossed the plate. Villarreal's two-RBI single up the middle got the Aggies out to a 3-0 lead.
The Lady Bears answered in the top of the third with three runs of their own. Tiffany Wesley doubled to left center to plate one and Alex Colyer lined a two-run single to right to knot the score at three a piece.
Reynolds, sophomore Kelsey Spittler and Ridley each walked to fill the bases again in the third, but Canion fanned her third batter of the inning and the score remained tied.
Brette Reagan led off the sixth with a double to right center and with two outs, Nicole Wesley singled and Kliesing hit two consecutive batters to pushe Reagan across the plate and move Baylor into the lead, 4-3.
Canion's first pitch in the bottom of the sixth hit Rau and pinch runner Andrea Tovar was sacrificed to second by Ridley before Villarreal stepped up and hit a 0-1 count out of the park.
"I love that our offense didn't worry about (the hit batter)," said Evans. They answered right back and got a run."
Sophomore Rhi Kliesing (18-10) threw all seven innings for the win in the circle. From Pearland, Texas, the right-hander gave up four runs on eight hits, walked two and struck out four. Canion allowed four runs on five hits and fanned 11 batters, but also walked seven and hit three.
The Aggies continue Big 12 action at No. 15 Oklahoma this weekend. Saturday's game begins at 2 p.m. and Sunday's game is on ESPN with first pitch set for 12:04 p.m.
