Cowgirls Drop Series Opener on Walk-Off Home Run

Amber Garza ended the game on a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:23 pm

By: News On 6

Cowgirls Drop Series Opener on Walk-Off Home Run

Originally Published: May 7, 2011 4:10 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M’s Amber Garza launched a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning and handed the Oklahoma State softball team a 4-2 loss Saturday.

The teams entered the final frame tied, and Oklahoma State managed to get a runner into scoring position with only one out in the top half of the inning. But Mariah Gearhart and Ari Morrison followed with back-to-back foul outs to end the threat, and Texas A&M took advantage in the bottom half.

Meagan May drew a lead-off walk and then advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt. A single likely would have won the game, but Garza went bigger than that. She launched a pitch over the left-field wall to win the game.

Garza’s home run was only the Aggies’ third hit of the game, but TAMU made them all count. The only other two hits came in the fourth inning, which also was the only other inning the Aggies scored. Natalie Villarreal led off with a single, and then May delivered a two-run homer later in the inning.

That strike gave A&M a 2-0 lead, but the Cowgirls tied things in the sixth with a home run of their own. This one came courtesy of Chelsea Garcia and also was a two-run strike. After Garza’s game winner, all six of the game’s runs came courtesy of two-run homers.

Kat Espinosa turned in another strong pitching performance, holding A&M to two runs on two hits in five innings. Sarah Odom entered after that and only allowed one hit, but it was Garza’s blast.

Melissa Dumezich pitched a complete game for Texas A&M and held OSU two runs on six hits and only one walk.

The Cowgirls now have lost two games in a row, but will seek a series split with the Aggies at 1 p.m. Sunday.