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Softball starts season 3-2 at SMU Invite
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (February 3) – Off to a much better start than last season, the Cameron Aggie softball team (3-2) wrapped up play this afternoon at the St. Mary’s University Invitational tournament. The team played five games over the course of three days, winning three and nearly all five. The Aggies started last season 0-8 and lost all five of their games at the 2007 SMU Invite.
“Overall the whole weekend was good, especially to come out and win three out of five this early in the season,” Head Coach Richie Nye said. “It was positive because we didn’t play well in a couple of games and still had chances to win. If we keep that up and play well and keep everything together at the same time like we did, we could do well.”
Cameron opened up the tournament on Friday with a 6-5, extra-inning victory over Delta State University, and an 11-4 loss to fellow Lone Star Conference school Tarleton State. The Aggies shutout their opponents on Saturday, winning 9-0 against Texas Woman’s University, another LSC school, and 10-0 against Texas A&M University International. CU’s one game on Sunday saw them losing 6-4 to another tough LSC squad in Abilene Christian.
The Aggies hit 9 homeruns in the tournament and are already on pace to break their Lone Star Conference season record of 67 team homeruns. The team also hit a combined batting average of .275 and threw a combined earned run average of 4.22. As a team CU recorded an impressive 38 hits while only striking out 21 times. Perhaps more remarkable was that the Aggies didn’t hit into a double-play all weekend.
“There were a couple of games we threw really, really well and hit our spots,” Coach Nye said. “The defense behind the pitchers played well, and that’s what it takes to be good: when you make bad pitches the defense picks you up.”
Junior shortstop Megan Young had a very good weekend for CU, and was named to the All-Tournament as Cameron’s only representative because of it. In the team’s five games Young went 5-12 for a .417 batting average. She also scored a team-high 8 runs, hit a team-high 3 homeruns, and knocked in a team-high 10 RBI. Additionally Young was walked 8 times, and only struck out once.
Sophomore outfielder Courtney Clifford led the team offensively with a .429 batting average after going 6-14 from the plate. She also recorded 1 RBI and Cameron’s only stolen base.
Sophomore pitcher Ashton McBride had a very solid weekend from the mound, going 2-1 in her 3 appearances. She finished with an impressive 1.89 ERA in 19 innings, and 5 strikeouts. She only walked 6 of the 78 batters she faced.
Senior third-baseman Melissa Bour rebounded from a rough start to lead the team with 3 doubles. She finished with a .333 batting average after getting 6 hits in 18 at-bats. She also hit a triple and knocked in 11 RBI. Additionally, Bour walked once and struck out 4 times.
“When we left San Antonio last year we didn’t have any homeruns or wins,” Coach Nye said. “So far we are off to a good pace, and obviously a much better start.”
The Aggies stay on the road this week to take on St. Edward’s University tomorrow in Austin, Texas. The double-header between the teams begins at 1:00pm. Cameron will take part in two more tournaments, at Abilene Christian and Angelo State, before hosting their first home game on February 18 against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
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