Milligan delivers in clutch for A&M
COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M leadoff hitter Keeli Milligan is the Aggies’ go-to player … for vibrant hair dyes.
“You want your hair done, come to me, I’ll get it done,” said a grinning Milligan, who along with A&M ace Samantha Show sported a long blue ponytail Saturday.
As much as the Aggies love Milligan for her way with colorful hair, they love her even more for her clutch hitting. The No. 1-seeded Aggies defeated No. 2 seed Texas State 3-1 at the Aggies Softball Complex in the winners’ bracket of the College Station regional, thanks in large part to Milligan’s prowess at the plate.
The Bobcats led 1-0 in the fifth inning when Milligan led off with a single. She later scored on a single by Kristen Cuyos to tie the game. An inning later Milligan came to the plate with the Aggies’ Sarah Hudek on third and two outs. The lefthandedhitting Milligan lifted a long fly ball to the opposite field and with left fielder Kimberlin Naivar drawn in.
“As soon as I saw her do one circle,” Milligan said of Naivar pursuing the deep, curving hit, “I knew she was going to be chasing it a little bit.”
Milligan’s double lifted A&M (44-10) to its first lead at 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth, and she scored on a Kaitlyn Alderink single for the final score.
“Keeli is big for us, and she’s doing what she knows how to,” A&M coach Jo Evans said.
The Aggies will face Texas (33-25) at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
The Longhorns defeated TSU 8-0 in the first elimination game Saturday following the AggiesBobcats showdown, and UT then beat Texas State 6-3 in a second elimination game for the right to play the Aggies.
Show (18-6) allowed six hits and one run in seven innings, her 13th complete game of the season.
BAYLOR 4
JAMES MADISON 2
The Lady Bears (45-12) advanced to play James Madison (52-7) after they beat the Dukes in an early contest at the Waco regional.
In a late game, James Madison beat Kent State 4-0 to advance to Sunday’s game with Baylor.
Baylor’s Shelby Friudenberg had three RBIs. Kelsee Selman (23-8) allowed four hits and two runs, both earned, for the complete-game win. Chronicle news services contributed to this report.