Texas A&M Softball: Aggies christen new stadium with sweep
By John Tee
Texas A&M softball officially moved into their new stadium, Davis Diamond, and the inaugural series culminated with a dominating sweep of a ranked Auburn team.
Following an inauspicious weekend that saw Texas A&M drop a road series to an LSU team that I saw beat Florida on the road while at a crawfish boil, the Aggies (40-12, 13-8 SEC) officially moved into their new stadium: Davis Diamond. The first series on the new field was against a very tough, ranked Auburn team, and in dominating, dramatic fashion, the Aggies broke in their new stadium with a sweep.
Game 1: The first game at the Diamond is a win
In front of a sellout crowd, the Aggies and Tigers put up a heavyweight fight, with both teams going scoreless until the Aggies started a two-out rally in the fourth inning. Ashley Walters drew a walk, and Kaitlyn Alderink immediately singled. Blake-Ann Fritch then pinch ran for Walters, and Riley Sartain then doubled, making Fritch’s run the first in the new stadium. Kelbi Fortenberry then singled to score Alderink and Sartain to make it a 3-0 lead, which was all starting pitcher Trinity Harrington needed.
The Tigers threatened in the sixth inning, scoring a single run. However, that was all they got, and the Aggies cruised to their first win ever at Davis Diamond.
Game 2: The second game at the Diamond is a walk-off
There’s not really much to say about this game. The Aggies somehow got five hits but couldn’t push any runs across for most of the game. In the circle, it was different, as Samantha Show pitched her first career complete game and only allowed one hit in the process.
The second game ever at Davis Diamond ended in dramatic fashion. With two outs in the final inning, Riley Sartain and Kelbi Fortenberry singled. Kylie George then pinch ran for Sartain, and Kristen Cuyos immediately singled again, scoring George. Final score: 1-0 Aggies. It was fitting to have the second game ever at the Diamond be a walk-off win.
Game 3: Complete dominance leads to a sweep
The Aggies ended the weekend series in their new stadium on the best possible note and made a little history in doing so. Keeli Milligan started things off with a base hit, and Tori Vidales immediately followed that up by hitting the first home run at Davis Diamond to make it 2-0 Aggies. It was Vidales’ 60th career home run, and in knocking it out of the park, she became Texas A&M’s leader in all-time bases, passing Megan Gibson’s previous program high of 443.
Two innings later, Sarah Hudek singled and Vidales homered yet againb to make it 4-0. The Aggies would then load the bases and add to the lead on a run scored on a wild pitch. 5-0 Aggies.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Aggies essentially put the game out of reach on RBI singles from Riley Sartain and Ashley Walters. Auburn got a run back in the sixth, but Lexi Smith’s dominance and the run support given to her by the team was too much to overcome.
Next: Aggie women's b-ball future is bright
At the end of it all, the Aggies finished their first weekend at the new stadium with a clean sweep over a ranked team. For the seniors, like Vidales, this marks the first and the last time they will play at Davis Diamond, but they etched their names into Aggie softball history in the process. The Aggies wrap up their regular season against Alabama with a Friday-Sunday series this weekend.
***stats and info from 12thman.com***