Published Saturday, May 21, 2011 12:53 AM
By ROBERT CESSNA
robert.cessna@theeagle.com
Veteran Texas A&M softball coach Jo Evans said she remembers about half the victories but all the losses. The Aggies made sure she'll have no trouble recalling her 900th victory.
A&M cruised to a 10-2 victory over the Sacred Heart Pioneers in opening-round play of the College Station Regional on Friday night. The 18th-ranked Aggies got rolling with a grand slam by Amber Garza and sent the crowd of 1,098 home early with a walk-off sixth-inning homer by Rhiannon Kliesing. The high drive cleared the right-field fence to run-rule the Pioneers and came minutes before lightning arrived at the Aggie Softball Complex.
Getting home before the rain capped a great day for the Aggies who won their 25th straight home game. A&M (42-13) advances in the double-elimination format to face Syracuse at 1 p.m. Saturday. Syracuse upset 20th-ranked LSU 3-0 in 11 innings in Friday's first game.
Garza gave A&M more runs than that with just one swing. She turned on a screwball and smashed the ball well over the fence in right-center field. Garza attacked the first pitch she saw after Sacred Heart starter Jen Russell (18-13) had walked two and hit Kelsey Spittler.
"Coach just told me to go up there and get a base hit and don't try to do anything too much," Garza said. "I was looking on the outside corner, and she gave me what I wanted. I wasn't going to miss that opportunity."
Spunky Sacred Heart (29-20) bounced back in the third inning with a two-out, bases-loaded single by Annie Dreher off Aggie ace Melissa Dumezich, but the Pioneers couldn't keep the Aggies from adding runs. A&M had 10 hits but scored four runs on walks and a hit batsman. The Pioneers also had two errors and a couple mental mistakes.
The early lead allowed Evans to rest Dumezich after 73 pitches. The sophomore right-hander had pitched the team's last 65 2/3 innings before Lindsey Sisk came in and retired the side in order twice, looking sharp despite not working since April 20.
"Lindsey's got [Mel's] back," Evans said. "We have two legitimate weapons to throw out there."
Sisk pitched to All-American Meagan May, who missed 11 games after breaking a finger in her throwing hand. May had been the designated player in the last nine games since returning, only hitting since getting injured against Sam Houston State on March 23.
She received a standing ovation when she walked out in catcher's gear to start the fifth. Evans received a few hugs and handshakes after improving to 900-494-2.
"I'm really excited it happened on our field," Evans said. "I'm excited it happened in the postseason, what a great way for us to start the postseason with a really big win, and it feels good that my parents were in the stands.
"I thought it was really generous of our players afterward to give me a little hug, and a little lovin' after the game. I just am really enjoying this team very much and I love coaching here at A&M. It's fun to get to 900, it makes me realize how old I am."
Garza is one of three freshman starters that will help Evans think young and get a few more victories. Garza hit her eighth homer and has 42 runs batted in.
"When I hugged Amber, I thought, she's going to be part of a lot of wins, and I'm just going to enjoy it," Evans said.
Other proud parents in the stands besides Bill and Bonnie Evans of Salt Lake City were Dumezich's parents and grandmother from Whiting, Ind.
"Most of the other kids are from Texas, so it's nice when Mel gets her parents here," Evans said.
Dumezich (28-8) struck out seven as A&M won its eighth straight, snapping Sacred Heart's seven-game winning streak.
Garza's slam and bases-loaded walk overshadowed a three-hit effort by Kliesing who hit her 17th homer.
*
Syracuse 3, LSU 0, 11 innings: Lacey Kohl's three-run homer powered Syracuse (45-11) to its first NCAA tournament victory in school history.
Kohl had struck out in her four previous at-bats before ending a pitchers' duel between Syracuse's Jenna Caira (35-9) and LSU's Rachel Fico. Caira allowed five hits and walked only one, which was intentional to face Kohl who hit the first pitch. Fico, 14-10, allowed six hits, struck out 18 and walked two.
*
NOTES -- LSU and Sacred Heart will play at 4 p.m. That winner will face the A&M-Syracuse loser at 7 p.m.
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Source: http://www.aggiesports.com/softball/Aggie-softball-team-opens-regional-with-bang
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