COLLEGE STATION, TX — Texas A&M Softball swept the Sam Houston State Bearkats, 4-3 and 5-4, Wednesday night at Davis Diamond.
In game one, Texas A&M (20-13) jumped out to an early two-run lead in the first. Sam Houston responded in the second with a run, but A&M added another on a Baylee Klingler RBI double. In the fourth, Payton McBride roped a single up the middle, plating Blake-Ann Fritsch, to conclude scoring for the Aggies.
McBride (8-3) earned the win after throwing the fifth complete game of her career, yielding three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out four.
In the nightcap, after trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth, the Maroon & White put up a four spot in the sixth to take the lead, highlighted by a Riley Sartain triple, the first of her career.
Kayla Poynter earned the start and threw the first 3.0 innings of the game. The Loganville, Ga., native gave up four hits, two runs and two walks while striking out one. Kendall Potts (7-5) threw 4.0 innings in relief as she earned the win, her seventh of the season.
Texas A&M outhit Sam Houston, 20-14, on the night as seven Aggies recorded multi-hit nights. Kayla Garcia powered the offense in game two, going 3-for-3 with an RBI. Klingler recorded four hits, including a double, while Fritsch recorded three.
KEY INNINGS
Game 1
B1| Kelbi Fortenberry led off with an infield single, Blake-Ann Fritsch followed suit with a base hit to center and Baylee Klingler singled up the middle to load the bases. Fortenberry took advantage of an error by the Bearkats’ third baseman to score. A Dani Elder single to center plated Fritsch. A&M 2, SHSU 0
T2| Megan McDonald singled to left and Ashley Goetz singled through the left side before Sheridan Fisher was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kyndal Kutac delivered a sacrifice fly to allow McDonald to touch home and record the Bearkats’ first run of the game. A&M 2, SHSU 1
B2| Morgan Smith earned a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch before a Klingler double to center scored her. A&M 3, SHSU 1
B4| A base hit from Fritsch and back-to-back walks to Klingler and Riley Sartain loaded the bases in the fourth. Payton McBride singled up the middle, plating Fritsch, to extend the Aggies’ lead to three.A&M 4, SHSU 1
T5| Tiffany Thompson blasted a solo shot over the centerfield wall. A&M 4, SHSU 2
T7| Taylar Fuselier reached base on an infield single before Thompson singled to center, plating Regan Dunn, who pinch ran for Fuselier. A&M 4, SHSU 3
Game 2
T2| Bailey White singled down the right field line before Alexandra Diaz earned a walk and both advanced on a wild pitch. A Hunter Ervin RBI groundout plated McDonald, who pinch ran for White, to give the Bearkats an early lead. SHSU 1, A&M 0
T3| In the third, Karlee Canada walked and touched home on a double to center from Brooke Malia. SHSU 2, A&M 0
T5| Canada led off the fifth with a single to left before Thompson earned a walk. Canada stole third and scored on an error by the Aggies’ defense. Sam Houston added a run as Malia singled to right field, plating Thompson. SHSU 4, A&M 0
B5| Kayla Garcia singled to second base and advanced to third on a Morgan Smith infield single and muffed throw by the third baseman. Klingler delivered another single to centerfield allowing Garcia to score for the Aggies’ first run of the game. SHSU 4, A&M 1
B6| Sartain tripled to start the inning and scored on an Elder single to left. A Haley Lee double off the wall in center and Garcia base hit, plated Elder and cut the Bearkats’ lead to one. Fortenberry reached on a fielder’s choice as Taudrea Sinnie, who pinch ran for Lee, touched home to tie the game at four. Ashlynn Walls entered the game to run for Garcia and scored the go-ahead run on an error by the right fielder on a Fritsch base hit. A&M 5, SHSU 4
Top Offensive Players:
Kayla Garcia| 3-for-3, RBI, R
Baylee Klingler| 4-for-7, 2B
Blake-Ann Fritsch| 3-for-8, 2R
Pitching Breakdown:
Payton McBride (8-3) – W, 7.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 4 K, 1 BB
Kayla Poynter – 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 K, 2 BB
Kendall Potts (7-5) – W, 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 4 K, 1 BB
WHAT THEY SAID
Head Coach Jo Evans
On Sam Houston’s performance…
“It is a really big mid-week getting the opportunity to play two games. I am really impressed with what Garrett Valis is doing over there. I think they are well coached, and he made some really good decisions out there. I thought they played very well.”
On Kylie George making plays in right field…
“I told the team if Kylie doesn’t make that play out there, we don’t win. To end the game, she made the really nice diving catch in front of her. She does a great job out there. I think you have to tip your hat to any of our kids that fill these roles that can be challenging at times. What we are asking her to do is to go out there and play great defense and she has done a really good job of that.”
Junior OF Blake-Ann Fritsch
On Kylie George’s catch in the first game to secure the win…
“It was huge for her to make that play that ended that game for us. With having runners on first and second, I think that’s special.”
ON DECK
The Aggies take on BYU in a two-game series starting Friday evening at 6:00 p.m.
