Spring Break
Softball team to play in LSU tournament
By: T.D. Durham
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: Sports
For the second time in three days, the Texas A&M softball team will face Sam Houston State on the diamond.
The Aggies defeated the Bearkats in a 14-inning bout Wednesday and will begin the three-day Easton Tiger Classic tournament in Baton Rouge, La., against Sam Houston on Friday.
After winning the three-and-a-half-hour game 2-1 on Wednesday, the Aggies improved to 4-1 while the Bearkats fell to 4-1.
Sam Houston sophomore infielder Hailey Wiginton leads the Bearkats in hits, slugging percentage and ranks second on the team in batting with a .500 average. Wiginton was selected to the preseason All-Southland Conference team with senior pitcher Morgan Mikulin.
A&M Head Coach Jo Evans said playing the Bearkats again will be another tough game.
"It's important that we take confidence from the win Wednesday," Evans said. "[Sam Houston] is a tough team and they're going to play us hard again."
The Aggies' second game of the tournament will be against the 4-1 Ohio State Buckeyes.
Junior catcher Sam Marder, who was awarded All-American accolades after the 2008 season, led the nation in getting on base with a .633 percentage and was second nationally in batting with a .475 average.
Senior Kim Reeder is the Buckeyes' go-to pitcher in 2009. Reeder was awarded the Ohio State Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2008 and leads the Buckeyes in innings pitched with 10 and strike outs with 14.
Though the two teams have not met since 1998, A&M leads the all-time series 7-0.
"We haven't played them since who knows when," Evans said. "But we know they're in a good conference and will play well."
Rounding off the opponents for A&M will be the No. 20 Louisiana State Tigers. The Tigers are 4-2 in 2009 with losses to No. 10 Oklahoma and Arkansas-Pinebluff.
The Easton Tiger Classic marks the first of back-to-back tournaments hosted in Baton Rouge for the Tigers in their new stadium. The team had its first practice in the new facility, Tiger Park, this previous week.
Freshman infielder Anissa Young started the season well with the Tigers, hitting a grand slam in the second inning of her first game with Louisiana State.
"We know that they have a lot to bring to the table," Evans said. "They play in the very tough Southeastern Conference so we're ready for a fight."
A&M senior Erin Glasco, who hit a game-winning double against Sam Houston on Wednesday, said the Aggies are very excited for the tournament.
"We're pumped up for the weekend," Glasco said. "As long as we don't get a little over-aggressive, we'll be great out there."
The Aggies have been inconsistent at the plate in 2009, winning two games by run rule but being held to three runs in two games combined against Tulsa and Sam Houston.
The Aggies will look to sophomore Rhi Kliesing and freshman Rebecca Arbino to control the game from the mound. Arbino is 1-1 in the season with two strikeouts and an ERA of 2.05.
"We'll definitely see a start for [Arbino] this weekend," Evans said. "She's starting to get confidence on the mound."
Kliesing leads A&M with 18 strikeouts, a 3-0 record and an ERA of 0.29.
"She's been phenomenal out there," Glasco said. "Our success is going to be measured on whether she is an ace out there on the mound, and so far she's been just that."
Upcoming home games
Feb. 27 vs. Monmouth, N.J.
Feb. 28 vs.Monmouth, N.J.
Feb. 27 vs.Arizona
Feb. 28 vs.Arizona
March 1 vs.Arizona
The Aggies defeated the Bearkats in a 14-inning bout Wednesday and will begin the three-day Easton Tiger Classic tournament in Baton Rouge, La., against Sam Houston on Friday.
After winning the three-and-a-half-hour game 2-1 on Wednesday, the Aggies improved to 4-1 while the Bearkats fell to 4-1.
Sam Houston sophomore infielder Hailey Wiginton leads the Bearkats in hits, slugging percentage and ranks second on the team in batting with a .500 average. Wiginton was selected to the preseason All-Southland Conference team with senior pitcher Morgan Mikulin.
A&M Head Coach Jo Evans said playing the Bearkats again will be another tough game.
"It's important that we take confidence from the win Wednesday," Evans said. "[Sam Houston] is a tough team and they're going to play us hard again."
The Aggies' second game of the tournament will be against the 4-1 Ohio State Buckeyes.
Junior catcher Sam Marder, who was awarded All-American accolades after the 2008 season, led the nation in getting on base with a .633 percentage and was second nationally in batting with a .475 average.
Senior Kim Reeder is the Buckeyes' go-to pitcher in 2009. Reeder was awarded the Ohio State Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2008 and leads the Buckeyes in innings pitched with 10 and strike outs with 14.
Though the two teams have not met since 1998, A&M leads the all-time series 7-0.
"We haven't played them since who knows when," Evans said. "But we know they're in a good conference and will play well."
Rounding off the opponents for A&M will be the No. 20 Louisiana State Tigers. The Tigers are 4-2 in 2009 with losses to No. 10 Oklahoma and Arkansas-Pinebluff.
The Easton Tiger Classic marks the first of back-to-back tournaments hosted in Baton Rouge for the Tigers in their new stadium. The team had its first practice in the new facility, Tiger Park, this previous week.
Freshman infielder Anissa Young started the season well with the Tigers, hitting a grand slam in the second inning of her first game with Louisiana State.
"We know that they have a lot to bring to the table," Evans said. "They play in the very tough Southeastern Conference so we're ready for a fight."
A&M senior Erin Glasco, who hit a game-winning double against Sam Houston on Wednesday, said the Aggies are very excited for the tournament.
"We're pumped up for the weekend," Glasco said. "As long as we don't get a little over-aggressive, we'll be great out there."
The Aggies have been inconsistent at the plate in 2009, winning two games by run rule but being held to three runs in two games combined against Tulsa and Sam Houston.
The Aggies will look to sophomore Rhi Kliesing and freshman Rebecca Arbino to control the game from the mound. Arbino is 1-1 in the season with two strikeouts and an ERA of 2.05.
"We'll definitely see a start for [Arbino] this weekend," Evans said. "She's starting to get confidence on the mound."
Kliesing leads A&M with 18 strikeouts, a 3-0 record and an ERA of 0.29.
"She's been phenomenal out there," Glasco said. "Our success is going to be measured on whether she is an ace out there on the mound, and so far she's been just that."
Upcoming home games
Feb. 27 vs. Monmouth, N.J.
Feb. 28 vs.Monmouth, N.J.
Feb. 27 vs.Arizona
Feb. 28 vs.Arizona
March 1 vs.Arizona
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