Softball splits again in California

Sophomore Mel Dumezich hit her career-first grand slam as The No. 21 Texas A&M softball team defeated Ohio State 10-1 before falling to No. 1 Georgia 6-2 Friday on day two of the Cathedral City Classic.

The Aggies (12-4) took a 1-0 jump on the Buckeyes (4-7) in game one when freshman Amber Garza hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second that sailed over the fence at right center.

Freshman Cassie Tysarczyk stepped up and gave A&M another leadoff hit in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded and two outs Dumezich went yard for her career-first grand slam, pushing Tysarczyk, sophomore Meagan May and Garza home with her.

Ohio State pushed the score to 5-1 in the next half-inning when first baseman Evelyn Carrillo got a piece of a pitch and sent it out of the park down the right field line.

A&M scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth to dominate the Buckeyes 10-1. Quick-footed freshman Emily Albus led off with a bunt single straight to the pitcher, beating the throw to reach first.

OSU starting pitcher Kasie Kelly walked Villarreal and was taken out of the game. Brittany Goodchild came to the circle from right and immediately walked Tysarczyk to load the bases. Senior Rhi Kliesing put a two-RBI single in right center, scoring Albus and Villarreal.

May sacrificed to left field to send Tysarczyk home. Freshman Kaydee Rayburn, pinch running for Kliesing was also sent home on a sacrifice fly, a floater to the right fielder by freshman Nicole Morgan.

Redshirt junior Lindsey Sisk (5-2) picked up the win. The Murrieta, Calif., native struck out four batters and allowed one earned run. Kelly picked up the loss, allowing seven earned runs on five hits in three innings. 

It was Garza again with the first RBI of game two, squeezing a double through the left side that scored Tysarczyk and Kliesing with the bases loaded. Kliesing had the first hit of the inning, a floater to left center. A&M ended the first ahead by two.

With runners on first and second in the top of the third, Georgia’s Megan Wiggins hit a long ball over right field to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead. The Aggies quickly sent the next three batters back to their dugout to end the inning.

The Aggies were unable to respond in the next two innings, and in the top of the fifth Georgia first baseman Brianna Hesson singled through the left side and sent Wiggins home for the 4-2 run.

Georgia’s Kristyn Sandberg led off the top of the sixth with a four bagger on the first pitch over left center.
Wiggins led off in the next inning with her second home run of the game, again over the fence at right-center, to push the Bulldogs ahead 6-2 at the end of the game.

Dumezich (6-3) picked up the loss. The Whiting, Ind., native pitched six innings and struck out six batters. Georgia’s Alison Owen (3-0) drew the win, fanning nine batters in five innings of work and allowing one hit. The Bulldogs move ahead to 12-1 on the season.

The Aggies take on Northwestern Saturday at 12 p.m. CST. Listen to the game live on Sports Radio 1150 AM or follow the action on AggieAthletics.com.