COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The USA Softball Women’s National team captured two exhibition victories on Monday evening against the Texas A&M University Aggies at the Aggie Softball Complex. As preparation for the upcoming Pan American Games October 17-23 in Guadalajara, Mexico, the USA held the Aggies scoreless recording a 3-0 win in game one and a large late 12-2 victory in game two.
“I thought today was a great day to get the camaraderie back with this team,” said head coach Ken Eriksen. “We got our pitching lined up and it was great to be around each other and remember what we did this summer together. We ran lots of defensive plays that I was happy with and there is no question this week will pay dividends come next week when we face international competition.”
Up next the U.S. team will battle the University of Houston at the Cougar Softball Complex on Tuesday, October 11 at 7 p.m. CST. Following the game, both teams will be available for autographs.
Live Stats for the USA vs. Houston game will be available at http://www.uhcougars.com/gametracker/launch/?event=1044472&school=hou&sport=wsoftbl&GAME ONE: USA 3 TEXAS A&M 0
In game one, the USA garnered a 3-0 victory with Whitney Canion (Aledo, Texas) earning the shutout victory tossing four complete innings allowing just two hits and four strikeouts in 16 batters faced. Jordan Taylor (Valencia, Calif.) closed out the final three innings from the circle for the USA team tallying seven strikeouts and one hit.
The U.S. jumped ahead early in the top of the first inning taking a 1-0 advantage thanks to a leadoff single from Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.) that was followed by a Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif.) RBI double to right field.
Quiet in the second, the U.S. added a security run in the third inning when third baseman Stacy May-Johnson (Reno, Nev.) contributed an RBI single and plated Ashley Holcombe (Fayetteville, Ga.) who reached on a hit.
The Red, White and Blue inked its third and final run in the sixth inning for the eventual 3-0 differential. Returner Jenae Leles (Sacramento, Calif.), in the lineup as the designated hitter, drove in an RBI double scoring Cochran who earlier notched a single.
Cochran and Moultrie led the roster with two hits each as May-Johnson, Cochran and Leles each added an RBI on the stat sheet.
A&M starting pitcher Mel Dumezich was saddled with the loss while Tyler, Walker and Shannon earned the three Aggie hits of the game. The home team left seven runners stranded in the contest.
GAME TWO: USA 12 TEXAS A&M 2
South paw Keilani Ricketts (San Jose, Calif.) tossed a gem in game two of the doubleheader match up recording nine straight strikeouts in four innings pitched as the USA claimed a 12-2 decisive victory.
Meagan May (Spring, Texas), a current player on the Aggie collegiate roster who recently earned a spot on Team USA as a catcher, roped a two-run home run in the second against collegiate battery mate Lindsey Sisk to give the USA the early 2-0 lead.
The U.S. added another run in the third before Leles moved the U.S. in front 5-0 with one swing of the bat with a homer to leftfield in the sixth. The round-tripper advanced Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) who reached thanks to a walk.
A two RBI single from Aggie Sisk in the bottom of the sixth saw the first Aggie runs of the evening yet still a 5-2 USA advantage.
The Red, White and Blue opened up the contest in the top of the seventh inning scoring seven runs for what was the ultimate 12-2 triumph.
Leading the way in the game was May who was 2-for-4 with three RBI and second baseman Lauren Gibson (Pasadena, Md.) who went 2-for-3 with two RBI. May-Johnson had one hit and earned a base on balls on three different occasions.