February 15, 2003
The Texas A&M softball team, ranked 24th nationally, won their own tournament Saturday as they beat McNeese St. twice and BYU once to go 3-1 on the weekend and capture the title of the 2003 St. Joseph's Aggie Invitational I.
After going 2-0 on Friday the Ags lost to BYU at 2:30 on Saturday then beat McNeese St. 1-0 to capture the tournament title.
The Aggies squared off against BYU in their first game of the day and and came up short losing 1-0 to the Cougars. The Aggies were held scoreless with two hits as they allowed two runs in the fourth that proved to be the difference in the game.
Junior Jessica Slataper got the start and pitched her sixth complete game of the year in the losing effort. The loss drops Slataper to 3-3 on the season. In seven innings of work Slataper allowed two runs and two hits while striking out 11 of the 23 batters that she faced. Her 11 strikeouts is a season best, her previous being nine in the opening day no-hitter she threw against Stephen F. Austin.
Against McNeese St. junior right-hander Lindsay Wilhelmson got the start and pitched her second complete game of the year, earning the win and improving to 3-1 on the season. In the game Wilhelmson faced 26 Cowgirl batters and struckout nine allowing no runs off of two hits as she was backed by solid defensive play from her teammates.
Texas A&M and BYU finished the weekend tied with a 3-1 record but the Aggies won the tournament off of point differential. The Cougars were +1 in point differintial while the Aggies were +10 for the weekend. The McNeese State Cowgirls lost all four games this weekend and are now 0-4 on the year.
The Aggies travel to San Marcos on Wednesday as they will take on the Bobcats of Southwest Texas State in a double header at 3:00 p.m.
The Aggies will play at home again next weekend as they host the St. Joseph's Aggie Invitational II. Scheduled to compete in the 10-game tournament is Wichita St., Southeastern Louisiana, Prairie View A&M and Texas A&M. Games will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 21-22.