Texas A&M
Cal State Northridge
May Leads Aggies to 8-2 Victory Over Cal State Northridge
Feb 14, 2010 | Softball
Feb. 14, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. - Texas A&M freshman Meagan May hit two doubles and a home run and drove in four of the Aggies' eight runs in an 8-2 victory Sunday morning in the team's final game of the Kajikawa Classic at the Tempe Sports Complex.
From Spring, Texas, May homered for the third time this weekend and was one of two A&M players to tally three hits in the game. Senior Macie Morrow went 3-for-4 with two runs, while May went 3-for-3.
Junior Rhi Kliesing turned in another stellar performance in the circle with 11 strikeouts in her third straight win. The Pearland, Texas, native also drove in two runs at the plate.
A&M improves to 4-1 with the victory with its only loss coming at the hands of No. 5 Arizona State. Cal State Northridge falls to 1-4.
"I was really pleased with the win," said head coach Jo Evans. "It was nice to see the players at the top of the order really setting the table. We came here and took care of business this morning. I was very disappointed in the way we approached the game (yesterday). We came out today and said that's not who we are. To get on the board early just makes such a huge difference.
"Morrow did a terrific job this weekend as our lead-off hitter and really solidified herself in that spot. (Kelsey) Spittler also did a nice job getting on base."
Morrow sparked the Aggies' first inning and led off with a stand-up triple down the right field line. Spittler and May then walked to load the bases with A&M's first three batters. Kliesing, in the clean-up spot, dropped a Texas leaguer behind the shortstop to plate both Morrow and Spittler and got A&M out to a quick 2-0 lead.
Morrow singled and reached again in the second. With two outs, Spittler got a hold of a pitch and sent it to left field where Lauren Olivas snagged it and knocked over the short, temporary fence on what would have been a two-run home run.
A&M picked up its pair of runs in the third frame. May led off the inning with a double to left center and Kliesing followed with a walk. Senior Alex Reynolds then sacrificed both runners into scoring position before freshman Melissa Dumezich laced a two-run, ground-rule double down the left field line with two down.
Kliesing took the momentum into the circle and struck out the side in the top of the fourth.
The Aggies added to their lead in the bottom of the inning as Morrow tallied her third hit of the game and led off with a single to right. Spittler drew her second walk and May doubled for the second time to score both runners and give A&M a 6-0 lead.
The Matadors put a pair of runs on the scoreboard in the fifth as Tracy Allen led off with a single before Jennifer Mosier hit a two-run home run to make to make the score 6-2.
May answered in the sixth and blasted a two-run shot to put the Aggies back up by six runs. Spittler walked prior to May's third career home run.
Kliesing threw a complete game, allowing two runs on six hits, walking none and fanning 11 for her second consecutive game with double-digit K's.
The Aggies are on the road again Wednesday as they travel to Sam Houston State for a 4 p.m. game against the Bearkats. A&M opens the season at home on Friday with Mississippi State.
