February 07, 2003
The 24th ranked Texas A&M Softball team opened play in Phoenix on Friday with two games at the ASU Fiesta Bowl Classic. The Aggies squared off against #10 Cal St. Fullerton in their first game and lost a close battle 4-3. In the Aggies second game of the day they took on the #2 ranked Wildcats of Arizona and lost 6-0.
Junior Jessica Slataper got the start against Cal St. and was able to hold the Titan bats at bay for the majority of the game allowing the Aggie offense and defense the opportunity to build a 3-0 lead. The Aggies were sparked at the plate by a double from sophomore Adrian Gregory and a home run by senior Selena Collins. The home run was Collins' first of the season giving the Aggies seven home runs in four games. Collins, who hails from Glendale, Arizona (a suburb of Phoenix), launched the long ball in front of family and friends who were in attendance.
"It is good to be home for a little while and have the family support. It is a tough loss but we played so good except for that one inning. We will go back out and play hard and put this one behind us."
The Aggies held the lead until the top of the fifth when the Titans took the lead on a grand slam by outfielder Jodie Cox.
In the second game of the day the Aggies were stymied early on by dominating pitching and allowed the #2 Wildcats to build a 4-0 lead after just two innings. The lead proved to be too much to overcome and eventually the lady's succumbed to Arizona 6-0.
Texas A&M continues play in the Fiesta Bowl Tournament with two games on Saturday. At 3:30 the Aggies will face off against the #15 ranked Fresno State Bulldogs followed by a immediately by a match against the University of Utah. The games will be played at the Rose Mofford Softball Complex in Phoenix.
In all-time series play the Aggies trail Fresno State 3-9 while holding an 11-5 edge over the University of Utah. This will be the second season in a row that the Aggies will face off against Coach Evans' former squad. The Aggies last played the Utes in last year's Aggie Invitational I in College Station. The Aggies won both of the contests in the tournament.
A&M completes play in the Fiesta Bowl Tournament when they take on the Bulldogs of Mississippi St. at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.
The Aggies next howm action is next weekend, February 14th and15th, when the play host to Brigham Young University and McNeese State University in the St. Joseph Aggie Invitational I.