Spring Break
Softball well set for Longhorns
Aggies ready for Lonestar Showdown despite missing Morrow, Schroeder
By: T.D. Durham
Issue date: 4/1/09 Section: Sports
The No. 19 ranked Texas A&M softball team faces off against the No. 22 Texas Longhorns Wednesday in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown as a healthier team.
Although the Aggies will still be without starting shortstop Macie Morrow, who had facial reconstruction surgery last week, they will fill the roster with second base starter sophomore Natalie Villarreal, who is returning from a hip injury.
Villarreral, who leads the team in batting average with .368, was out of the lineup after injuring her hip flexor in a first base collision. She will return to the leadoff spot for A&M for the rivalry game.
Sophomore outfielder Bailey Schroeder, who saw playing time with Morrow and Villarreal absent, is still recovering from a separated shoulder and will be questionable for the game.
"Natalie is back and at 100 percent," said A&M Head Coach Jo Evans. "Bailey is still working with her shoulder, but she's trying to come back from that."
Evans said the rivalry between the two teams has an aspect of mutual respect, but the teams definitely have a strong competitive edge when they play each other.
"As far as their players and coaches go, we respect each other," Evans said. "But certainly bragging rights and the Lonestar Showdown add to the competitive fire."
Texas, 23-11 in 2009, has won six of its last 10 games, but is coming off of an 11-6 loss to Missouri. The Longhorns and
Aggies are nearly even all-time against each other, but A&M leads the series 16-15 historically.
Texas junior infielder Loryn Johnson leads the team in batting average, doubles and RBIs with .427, nine, and 32, respectively. Johnson was a member of the All-Big 12 Conference first team in 2008.
Texas right-handed pitcher Brittany Barnhill won the Big 12 Player of the Week award last week after hitting .700 with 10 RBIs in three games, one against Texas Tech and two versus Oklahoma. She leads the team in wins and strikeouts, with 14 and 85, respectively.
The Aggies had three games rescheduled last week because of inclement weather and have not played in a game in over a week. Despite only being in practices, Schroeder said the team is ready for the game.
"I know we haven't played in 10 days, but we've been very productive this week," Schroeder said. "Our work in practice was just as competitive as if we were playing."
Evans said that having the game in College Station and against a rival will be the perfect motivation for the team to get back into the game mentality.
"It's hard practicing more than you're playing for the girls," Evans said. "It's great that the first game back is Texas, because the kids will have adrenaline going and the crowd will be really into the game."
Although the Aggies will still be without starting shortstop Macie Morrow, who had facial reconstruction surgery last week, they will fill the roster with second base starter sophomore Natalie Villarreal, who is returning from a hip injury.
Villarreral, who leads the team in batting average with .368, was out of the lineup after injuring her hip flexor in a first base collision. She will return to the leadoff spot for A&M for the rivalry game.
Sophomore outfielder Bailey Schroeder, who saw playing time with Morrow and Villarreal absent, is still recovering from a separated shoulder and will be questionable for the game.
"Natalie is back and at 100 percent," said A&M Head Coach Jo Evans. "Bailey is still working with her shoulder, but she's trying to come back from that."
Evans said the rivalry between the two teams has an aspect of mutual respect, but the teams definitely have a strong competitive edge when they play each other.
"As far as their players and coaches go, we respect each other," Evans said. "But certainly bragging rights and the Lonestar Showdown add to the competitive fire."
Texas, 23-11 in 2009, has won six of its last 10 games, but is coming off of an 11-6 loss to Missouri. The Longhorns and
Aggies are nearly even all-time against each other, but A&M leads the series 16-15 historically.
Texas junior infielder Loryn Johnson leads the team in batting average, doubles and RBIs with .427, nine, and 32, respectively. Johnson was a member of the All-Big 12 Conference first team in 2008.
Texas right-handed pitcher Brittany Barnhill won the Big 12 Player of the Week award last week after hitting .700 with 10 RBIs in three games, one against Texas Tech and two versus Oklahoma. She leads the team in wins and strikeouts, with 14 and 85, respectively.
The Aggies had three games rescheduled last week because of inclement weather and have not played in a game in over a week. Despite only being in practices, Schroeder said the team is ready for the game.
"I know we haven't played in 10 days, but we've been very productive this week," Schroeder said. "Our work in practice was just as competitive as if we were playing."
Evans said that having the game in College Station and against a rival will be the perfect motivation for the team to get back into the game mentality.
"It's hard practicing more than you're playing for the girls," Evans said. "It's great that the first game back is Texas, because the kids will have adrenaline going and the crowd will be really into the game."
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