COLLEGE STATION, Texas. – Texas A&M scored a run in the fifth and two in the sixth to overcome an early Texas State lead and take a 3-1 win over the Bobcats in the winners' bracket game of the 2017 NCAA College Station Regional.

Texas State (42-16) now drops into the elimination bracket and will face the winner of the Texas/Texas Southern game in an elimination game at approximately 7:30 p.m. today (Sat., May 20). Texas A&M (44-10) advances to Sunday's Regional Championship game slated for 1:30 p.m. with the 'if necessary' game to follow at 4:00 p.m.

The Aggies finished with 11 hits, including five doubles, while TXST tallied six. Ariel Ortiz led TXST at the plate with two hits and Keeli Milligan paced TAMU with three.

Samantha Show (18-6) earned the win of the Aggies, pitching 7.0 innings with three strikeouts and four walks issued. Randi Rupp (28-10) suffered the loss, allowing all three Texas A&M runs on 11 hits, while striking out five.

After first pitch was delayed 45 minutes due to lightning, Christiana McDowell singled through the right side on the third pitch she saw and later came around to score for a 1-0 Bobcat lead as Corrina Liscano drew a bases loaded walk.  Also reaching base in the inning before Texas A&M's Show got out of the bases loaded jam were Taylor Webb (walk) and Jaelyn Young (single to third).

Rupp allowed an Aggie baserunner in both the first and second innings, but each time she used her defense to end the frames without the runners advancing.

Ortiz doubled to the wall in center with one out in the third, but was stranded as Show got out of the inning with ground ball and a strikeout. In the bottom of the inning Texas A&M's Milligan hit a one-out double down the left-field line and two batters later Tori Vidales walked on four pitches to put two aboard with two out for cleanup hitter Kristen Cuyos. Rupp worked a 2-2 count to Cuyos before getting the junior to roll a grounder to short to end the inning.

In the top of the fourth Texas State loaded the bases with one out, but could not find the timely hit to expand its lead. Kennedy Cline walked with one out, then Sara Rupp and Bailee Carter followed with singles to load the bases. However, Show escaped unscathed with a strikeout and a routine grounder to shortstop.

Ortiz led off the Bobcat fifth with a single, moved to second as Webb walked and took third on Young sacrifice bunt. However, both Ortiz and Rupp would be stranded in scoring position as the inning ended with the Bobcats' ninth groundout of the game. The Aggies knotted the score in the home half, waking advantage of three singles. Milligan led off with a single up the middle and later scored on Cuyos' base knock to left.

Texas A&M scored the go-ahead and an insurance run in the sixth. Sarah Hudek started the inning with a double to right and later scored the tying run as Milligan doubled to left. Kaitlyn Alderkin plated Milligan six pitches later with a single to shortstop, providing the 3-1 final.

 

UP NEXT
Texas State now drops into the elimination bracket and will face the winner of the Texas/Texas Southern game in an elimination game at approximately 7:30 p.m. today (Sat., May 20).
 
NCAA COLLEGE STATION REGIONAL SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Friday, May 19, 2017
G1: Texas State 2, Texas 1 (12 inn.)
G2: Texas A&M 14, Texas Southern 0 (5 inn.)
 
Saturday, May 20, 2017
G3: Texas A&M 3, Texas State 1
G4: 4:00 p.m. – Texas Southern (25-20) vs. Texas (31-25)
G5: 6:30 p.m. –  Texas State (42-16) vs. Winner Game 4
 
Sunday, May 21, 2017
G6: 1:30 p.m. – Texas A&M (45-10) vs. Winner Game 5
G7: 4 p.m. – (if necessary) Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6
 
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