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Texas A&M Softball: Aggies produce solid showing at Reveille Classic

By John Tee

ABERDEEN, MD - AUGUST 14: Chinese softball coach Zhang Xinyan of Shanghai collects balls as Zhang participates in a coaching education program at Ripken Baseball Academy August 14, 2007 in Aberdeen, Maryland. Twelve Chinese baseball and softball coaches took part in a five-week program to learn coaching skills from baseball hall of famer Cal Ripken Jr., who has been named as a special sports envoy of the U.S. State Department, and other Major League Baseball players. The coaches will use what they have learned about baseball in the U.S. to teach young players in their home country. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
ABERDEEN, MD - AUGUST 14: Chinese softball coach Zhang Xinyan of Shanghai collects balls as Zhang participates in a coaching education program at Ripken Baseball Academy August 14, 2007 in Aberdeen, Maryland. Twelve Chinese baseball and softball coaches took part in a five-week program to learn coaching skills from baseball hall of famer Cal Ripken Jr., who has been named as a special sports envoy of the U.S. State Department, and other Major League Baseball players. The coaches will use what they have learned about baseball in the U.S. to teach young players in their home country. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) /
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Texas A&M softball put together another solid weekend, going 5-1 over a six game stretch at the Reveille Classic in College Station.

The Aggies played a series of games after not having a midweek game. The Reveille Classic was a six game tournament played at the Aggie Softball Complex that served as something of a small break before several straight weeks of SEC play. The Aggies for the most part passed the test and proved they’re still one of the nation’s elite teams, going 5-1.

Let’s hope this was just an off night

The first game of a long weekend started against UConn on a Thursday night. The game itself was one of those off nights, not dissimilar from the quizzical loss Aggie Baseball suffered two nights prior.

From the first inning, it was pretty clear that this was night didn’t belong to the Aggies, as the Huskies immediately set the tone by hitting a solo home run. The Aggies responded with an RBI single the next half, but that was all they got.

UConn’s pitching dominated the Aggie bats all night. When the Huskies put up 4 runs in the 3rd inning, that was basically game, even if the Aggies actually equaled the Huskies in hits. As a result, freshman phenom Maddie MacGrandle suffered her first loss of the season.

It was just an off night

One thing that the Aggies have been adept at doing this season is responding well to losses. Despite suffering the lone loss to UConn on what was clearly just an off night, the Aggies swept the rest of the weekend, winning five straight.

The first game of the weekend streak was a 7-0 rout of Marist in which four different Aggies – Riley Sartain, Sarah Hudek, Samantha Show and Kristen Cuyos – homered. Later that Friday, the Aggies got a rematch with UConn, only this time, it was the Aggie pitching that dominated. The Aggies scored four runs in the third inning, and that was all they needed because Trinity Harrington again came one hit away from pitching a perfect game, making it 4-0 Aggies.

Then came Michigan State. The Spartans got a lead-off home run, but that’s all Samantha Show gave them. The Aggies took the lead in the fourth inning thanks to a 2-RBI single from none other than Samantha Show and then scored three more runs the next inning courtesy of Tori Vidales and Sarah Hudek RBIs. Final score: 5-1 Aggies.

Finally, the Aggies ended the weekend with games against Michigan State and Marist. The Aggies didn’t want any of this full 7-inning business so they run-ruled the Spartans in Game 1, thanks to dominant first and third innings. The game against Marist went the full seven innings, but it was significant because freshman pitcher Kayla Pointer got her first career start and win in a 4-1 win.

Next: Player grades from MBB win over UNC

The Aggies don’t have another game until Saturday, when they travel to Gainesville for what will undoubtedly be their toughest test of the season against Kelly Barnhill and the Florida Gators. I have a feeling they’re up to it, though.

***stats and info from 12thman.com***