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THE BATTALION
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Baseball drops home opener
Aggies shutout for first time since 1996 in 4-0 loss to Roadrunners
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TSA centerfielder Hunter Wenzel attempts to get back to first base as A&M first
baseman Travis Wong attempts to apply a tag in the Aggies’ 4-0 loss to UTSA.
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BY DOUG SHILLING
The Battalion
The learning experience continued for the
Texas A&M baseball team yesterday at Olsen
Field in front of an opening day record crowd
of 3,874.
Unfortunately for A&M, the experience was
once again a sour one as four University of
Texas-San Antonio pitchers combined to shutout
the Aggies, 4-0.
It was the first time since 1996, a span of 209
games, that A&M (1-3) had been shutout when
Rice University turned the trick. It was the first
time the Aggies failed to score at Olsen Field
since 1995 against Texas Tech.
“Our offense didn't click at all,” A&M base
ball coacli Mark Johnson said. “1 thought we were
still playing with a lot of nervousness.
“We're young, but we're into four games so 1
told the team that's about enough of that. We’re
going to have to be more competitive and play.
The Roadrunners (I -0) started off fast and
took the lead quickly on the Aggies.
UTSA rightfielder sent a pitch from A&M
freshman pitcher Ryan Warpinski over the left
field wall for a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
UTSA struck again in the third as they scored
two more runs on a groundout by first baseman
Mike Putnicki and a wild pitch by Warpinski to
stretch their lead to 3-0.
UTSA baseball coach Mickey Lashley said
getting an early lead was a plus for his ballclub,
especially after losing a close game at Olsen
last year.
“We were a little nervous early but 1 think the
key for us today was getting a couple of runs ear
ly,” Lashley said. “We have a number of new
guys on our team just like the Aggies and it was
their first time coming to College Station so I
think it was important to get on top early. It let us
relax a little bit.
“We lost a heartbreaker here last year. 1
thought we outplayed them then but the Aggie
magic got us. So we wanted to come in here and
play a good ball game. Our pitchers did a good
job and we played good defense.”
A&M had plenty of chances to get into the
game, but never capitalized.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Aggies had
runners on first and second with one out, but
sophomore third baseman Greg Porter struck out
on three pitches and freshman first baseman
Travis Wong grounded out to third base to end
the inning.
The next inning A&M had the bases loaded
with two out but sophomore leftfielder Carlos
Sepulveda struckout swinging.
The Aggies once again threatened in the eighth
inning with runners on second and third and only
one out. Sophomore shortstop Ryan Wardinsky
struck out swinging and senior second baseman
Sean 1 leaney grounded out to end the Aggies’
threat and chances.
“We were playing nervous so we needed a
couple of hits to break it open and maybe get a
lead,” Johnson said. “I thought their pitchers
did really well. They came in and threw strikes
and did a good job when they were behind in
the count.”
A&M junior rightfielder Daylan Holt said
the Aggies needed to get rallies going to gain
rhythm and momentum.
See Shutout on Page 9.
BY BREE HOLZ
The Battalion
A&M junior pitcher Amy Mining had
Lynn N. Hastily one more hatter to get through before
he would have pitched her first collegiate
rfect game.
“All 1 was thinking was, ‘Don’t think
xange approved afe^bout it Amy,'” Mining said.
But u itli two outs and the count at one
wll and one strike, Sam Houston State
niversity first baseman Candace Felts
idled a home run over the left field wall
nd ended Mining's perfect game.
would do anything to have that pitch
ack,” Mining said.
Though there was no perfect game, the
Texas A&M Softball Team was victorious
-1 Tuesday night in its first game of the
nigh the normal.fe 1 season at the Aggie Softball Complex.
Grahams," Ikkscfl Mining was perfect through 6 2/3 m-
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Softball coach Jo Evans said she was
very pleased with the Aggies’ perfor
mance in their first game of the season.
“I can’t complain one hit,” she said. “I
thought our team gave a great effort.”
Evans was especially pleased with
Mining's dynamic performance.
“Amy really pitched great,” Evans said.
“I thought she was really on top of her
game.
“I'm sure every Aggie fan is disap
pointed that she didn't get her perfect
game.”
The Aggies recorded 10 hits and no er
rors, while SHSU managed only one hit
and posted one error.
Senior first baseman Angie Long drove in
the Aggies’ first run of the game in the first in
ning on a triple that scored junior left-fielder
1 Jollee 1 layden, who reached base on a single.
“It's a specific goal of ours to score
first,” Evans said. “When you get that run
early, you can at least feel that every at bat
is not going to put you behind.
“Getting (hat first run was good for
Amy, letting her know that she didn't have
to be perfect, even though she almost was.”
The Aggies struck again in the fifth in
ning after Long advanced to first on a
walk and stole second base.
Sophomore second baseman Lisa
Klam slammed a double into the left field
comer, which scored Long and gave the
Aggies their second run of the game.
Klam scored from second base on a
single by junior right fielder Tiffany Es
ters, and the Aggies led, 3-0.
Mining said a major difference this
year's team has over last year’s team is the
consistency and power of every hitter.
“Our opponents have to pitch to
everyone,” she said. “They can't pitch
around someone to get to someone else.
They have to face the whole lineup, one
through nine.”
Evans said she was particularly im
pressed with the play of the team’s new
comers.
“Davis hit the ball great and did really
well at third base for us,” she said.
“[Freshman catcher] Selena Collins real
ly took charge behind the plate and got a
base hit. It's always great to see the fresh
men get up there and get a base hit in their
first game.”
Mining said the team was very pumped
up and ready to play in its first game.
“Practice is good, but you have to
have that first game to really get things
going,” she said. “Everyone’s adrenaline
was pumping, and we were all so excit
ed to play.”
CODY WAGES/Thk Battalion
A&M senior first baseman Angie Long slides into home
during the fifth inning of the Aggies 3-1 win last night.
plate
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