I spent my Saturday morning and early afternoon somehow watching a bunch of Women’s sports on TV. There was a professional Volleyball all-star game, the Women’s NCCA Basketball tournament, NWSL soccer, and, surprisingly, Women’s professional hockey. I watched the volleyball, which was pretty entertaining and featured a very attractive player I’d love to see more of. I also watched a bit of the soccer, which featured the largest NWSL attendance ever. The new franchise in Denver drew 63,000 fans to see a nil-nil draw. Otherwise, I was watching a NASCAR race and irritated that the radio wasn’t broadcasting the Texas Rangers game.
Aggie Softball came back from their loss last Sunday to win an 8-0 run rule shutout against Western Kentucky. Faith Aragon got the win and collected 2 hits. Jade Valladares had a 3-run homer and Devin Elam had 3 hits and 2 RBI’s, including a home run.
It was cool and breezy today, in contrast to last weekend’s 90+ degree heat. I was wearing long sleeves to stay warm. Britney Spears and Ariana Grande greeted me over the PA coming into the stadium. It was Girl Power Princess pop day. There was a young girls softball team sitting at the bottom of the stands below me. They would be invited on field to stand with the Aggies team for the Anthem. The Hilltoppers all had red rags in their back pockets when they came out for player introductions. They took them out and waved them after the Anthem.
Faith and some other pitchers were playing hacky sack on field, while the rest of the team warmed up. A great crowd of 585 showed up. Coach Rodolph was here with her delightful dog. She had some friendly banter with the umps. (The Coach that is, not the dog.) A group of older women came in and sat down in front of me. One lady in a rainbow-colored shirt talked about being out at a protest today. She was also talking about her European vacations (plural). She was thinking about going to Sparky’s for lunch tomorrow. (It’s been all Sparky’s lately.)
I actually had all of the scoring right on today’s scorecard. I even got the weird play in the first right. I might have these framed. Taryn Bennett started for the Aggies. After a leadoff single, the next batter tried to bunt, but ran into the ball coming out of the box for an out. After a groundout, Lauren Slatterly doubled in the runner and Morgan Sharpe singled her in. A single and a bobbled ball error in right put runners on the corners, but Taryn was able to strand them with a groundout. 2-0 WKU.
Between innings, there was some extra time waiting on the TV coverage for the whole game. The PA reported that it was 70-degrees and sunny here and 56-degrees and cloudy in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Aggies went down in order in the bottom of the first with Erica Houge starting for WKU. The Hilltoppers also only sent up three batters in the top of the second. Taylor Baca in centerfield went horizontal on a liner to end the inning.
In the bottom of the second, the Aggies started off with a pair of singles. A fielder’s choice moved a runner up to third. Madi Bachman smacked a sure home run to center, but the wind knocked it down on the warning track. That was enough to get a run in. Jade Valladares followed that with an RBI single. The Aggies had tied it up at 2.
Coach Rodolph and her dog came over to chat with the women in front of me. I finally found out that the dog’s name is Kayleigh. (I think.) The Coach had been in Montana consulting with the team there and is still working with some of our players. After they left, a woman with a little dog walked by them. Kayleigh was fascinated with the dog and kept staring after him.
The PA announced it was Wave the Wonder Dog’s birthday tomorrow and they were giving away 100 little statues. I actually already have one, as documented in my Wave Adoration post. Hopefully, the dog himself will make an appearance. We need a meeting between Wave and Kayleigh.
In the top of the fourth, Devin got twisted around on a flyball to right, but caught it. Taryn got the next batter out, but then gave up a pair of doubles, which gave WKU a 3-2 lead. She had a wild pitch that put the runner on third. The fans thought the batter had actually tipped the ball. I thought I heard something too, but the ump checked with another ump to confirm the call. Taryn finished the inning without further damage. The Aggies tied it back up in the bottom. Bella Clapp, on via a fielder’s choice and advanced on an error, was cashed in on single by Madi. 3 all.
A chatty guy next to me was mentioning that there’s a 50% off sale of Aggie Underarmor gear. I was interested, but remembered how Aggie stuff I have at home and then stopped myself from being interested. On the other hand, between innings, a large man fell into me trying to get a souvenir hat. I guess he didn’t have enough hats.
Destiny Perez relieved Taryn in the fifth. 4 runs came in via 2 doubles, a single, a sac bunt, and a 2-run homer by Kennedy Stinson. Zantelle Rodguez had to come in to finish the inning. 7-3 WKU. During the inning, Taylor made another great play by running down a liner and backhanding it. The Aggies got some traffic on in the bottom, but couldn’t get them in.
Zantelle worked a 1-2-3 top of the sixth. Again, Taylor made an over-the-shoulder catch in center. She was putting on a clinic today. The “music” between innings was a rap song with a woman saying, “Sponge Bob.” I’ll just let that lie there. A family left with their little boy crying, probably not related to the song, but who knows? He walked past the Softball girls below. They consoled him and patted him on the back. Suddenly, the kid was all better.
The Aggies felt a little better in the bottom of the sixth. The wind blowing in had stopped and Madi pounded a home run that she’d been denied earlier. 7-4 WKU. In the top of the seventh, Zantelle worked another scoreless inning. She got a big strikeout to end the inning and pumped up the crowd.
There was a tent by the entrance coming in. A local credit union was handing out souvenirs. (I didn’t see anything I wanted.) A couple of the girls working there came in to the stadium late to give away the rest of their neon green drawstring backpacks. The concessions were giving away left over hot dogs. Some of the kids were running after foul balls. The ushers were also going after them and bringing them back to the kids, so they could turn them in for suckers. Pretty much, if you wanted a giveaway today, you could get something.
To the bottom seventh, Kendal Lunar came in to pinch hit for Taylor to start the inning. Kendal put a home run into the scoreboard with her picture up on it no less. Devin singled right after, but was erased on a fielder’s choice. Finally, Houge got a comebacker from Skye Johnson. Houge twirled around and got the lead runner at second and Sharpe at short turned a double play to end the game. WKU wins, 7-5.
That was disappointing, but we weren’t cheated. It was a good game. That ran about 2 hours, so it was pretty tidy. The Aggies waved to the fans from the circle. WKU went to the stands and clapped and chanted for their fans. They seemed to travel pretty well.
Gameballs for WKU. Erica Houge went the distance pitching giving up 5 runs in 7 innings. The team had 3 errors behind her, but Erica gave them lots of groundballs to work with. (The Aggies hit 2 flyball outs.) The Hilltoppers spread their offense around. I’ll spotlight Kennedy Stinson for her back-breaking 2-run home run.
Gameballs for the Aggies. Zantelle Rodriguez did well with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief that gave the Aggies a chance to comeback late. Madi Bachman was 2 for 2 with 3 RBI’s and a home run. Kendal Lunar made the most of her pinch hitting appearance with a solo homer. Lastly, I have to mention Taylor Baca for 3 highlight reel plays in centerfield. She was reminding me of Jillian Taylor and I can’t give higher praise than that for a softball outfielder.
I went straight back home afterwards for a quiet evening listening to a Chihuahuas game. I’ll try to get something out to eat ***tomorrow*** after the rubber game of this series.
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