February 08, 2003
The 24th ranked Texas A&M softball team improved to 5-2 on the year by defeating No. 15 Fresno St. and Utah on Saturday in the Fiesta Bowl Tournament in Phoenix.
The Aggies faced off against the Bulldogs of Fresno St. in the first game and came out on top with a 2-1 victory thanks to dominating pitching by junior Jessica Slataper.
Slataper pitched her third complete game of the year against the Bulldogs with the win she improved her overall record to 2-1. Slataper pitched all nine innings of the extra inning affair as she held Fresno St. bats at bay. Slataper allowed just 1 run on 5 hits and struck out seven as she paced the Aggies to their fifth and biggest win of the season.
The Aggies took the lead in the bottom of the second when senior Selena Collins hit her second home run in as many days over the left field wall. The Bulldogs tied the game on a home run in the third and neither pitcher allowed another run during regulation play.
The Aggies took the win in the bottom of the ninth with Collins at the plate and the bases loaded. Without getting much to swing at the senior's patience payed off as she drew a walk and brought in the winning run.
The second game had Coach Evans and her squad taking on the University of Utah, Evans' former team. After giving up four runs in the bottom of the second the Aggies answered with five of their own as Collins', the 2002 Big 12 Player of the Year, delivered the go ahead run with a grand slam to straight away center. The home run was Collins' third of the tournament and the season.
After capturing the lead the Aggies never looked back as their bats got hot delivering five runs in the third, four in the fourth and two in the seventh, including a seventh inning two run home run by freshman first baseman Lindsay Park, the first of her career.
The Aggies 11-4 win even their 2003 tournament record to 2-2 and gave Coach Evans her fourth win in as many tries over her former team.
The Aggies next take the field on Sunday morning when the take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in their last game of the tournament.
The Aggies next home action is on Friday, February 14th and Saturday the 15th when the host the Aggie Invitational I at the Aggie Softball Complex. The Aggies will take on Brigham Young and McNeese St. in the tournament.