LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The No. 24 Texas A&M dropped a close 1-0 decision to Purdue (1-4) to fall to 3-2 on opening weekend.
Texas A&M and Purdue played four complete scoreless innings before the Boilermakers scored the only run of the game on an RBI single from Ashley Burkhardt, her only hit of the game.
Junior Cali Lanphear was walked in the bottom of the second, the only Aggie to get aboard in the first four innings. Freshman Kristen Cuyos broke up pitcher Lilly Fecho’s bid for a no-hitter in the bottom of the fifth with a line drive right up the middle for a single but was left stranded on base.
Junior Katie Marks came on to relieve senior Rachel Fox two-thirds of the way through the fifth and was able to hold off the Purdue attack, shutting down eight batters and not allowing a single hit.
Freshman Erica Russell found her way on base after a full count walk in the sixth and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from senior Brittany Clopton but the Aggies couldn’t capitalize, leaving her stranded in scoring position.
The Aggies finished 3-2 on opening weekend, claiming victories over Utah, San Diego State and No. 7 UCLA on Friday and Saturday. The Aggie pitching staff shone over the weekend, with multiple relief efforts coming on and quashing their opponents offensive attacks. Another bright point for the ball club was the play of six newcomers in their first collegiate outings in Maroon & White.
Coach Evans Postgame Sound
“I thought our pitchers looked great. Rachel [Fox] did a nice job, she gave up the one run and only gave up four hits on the day. You think if you give up only four hits and one run on the day you’ve got a great chance to win the day. I thoughtKatie Marks was a bright spot coming in. She got a quick out on the first hitter she throws to and threw six pitches in the seventh inning to get us off the field and ready to go.”
Let’s Hear a Hullabaloo…
… for the pitching staff. Senior Rachel Fox threw 62 strikes in 4.2 innings, allowing only four hits and one run. Coming on in relief, junior Katie Marks threw only 20 pitches, making quick work of eight batters faced in 2.1 innings.
Coach Evans on the pitchers:
“They did a great job. We had the one game against UCLA where we didn’t take care of business but the game against San Diego State, where we got ourselves behind, they did such a nice job of coming back. I think, as a staff, we made good decision on when to get kids in and out in terms of relief situations. I felt like our relievers were ready to go and they were right on top of things, our relief pitching was outstanding.”
@AggieSoftball Quick Hits
• A hit from freshman Kristen Cuyos in the fifth proved to not only be the only Aggie hit of the morning but also broke up Purdue’s Lilly Fecho’s bid for a no-hitter.
• Both Aggie pitchers on the day earned the praise of the coaching staff en route to a tough 1-0 loss to close opening weekend.
Up Next
The Aggies return home to host Eastern Michigan, Missouri State and Penn State in the Aggie Classic Feb. 13-15. The Aggies will take on Eastern Michigan and Penn State on Friday, Feb. 13, starting at 3:00 p.m. at the Aggie Softball Complex. Every game at the Aggie Softball Complex during the 2015 season will be available to watch on SEC Network + or tune in live using the Radio Aggieland app to hear every pitch. Follow along with live stats at 12thMan.com and @AggieSoftball on Twitter for all the hits, pitches and everything in between during the 2015 softball season.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics