March 23, 2003
The No. 23 Texas A&M softball team (23-11, 3-1) defeated No. 5 Nebraska 6-5 in 12 innings Sunday. The win was the teams second over the conference rival this weekend as the Aggies needed extra innings in both games to knock off the Huskers. The series sweep was the first time that the Huskers have been swept in since 1999 when the lost to Missouri.
The Aggies jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first when freshman Kristin Gunter hit a single up the middle with two outs and scored Rocky Spencer from third. Spencer reached base on a fielders choice when she hit a pop-up to second that freshman Jessica Yoachim lost in the sun.
Nebraska tied the game in the top of the fourth when Lisa Wangler led off with her second home run of the weekend and ninth of the season. The Huskers continued to rally as they loaded the bases off of two hits and a walk and scored the go ahead run when freshman pinch hitter Katie Linke drew a walk.
A&M came out in the bottom of the inning and quickly jumped back on top of the Huskers as sophomore Adrian Gregory lasered Tobias' first pitch of the inning between the legs of Nebraska third baseman Peaches James. Gregory advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kristin Gunter and then scored when senior Crystal Martin knocked a single through the right side tying the game at two apiece. The two-all tie would remain as the Aggies and Huskers moved to extra innings for the second straight day.
With the international tie-breaker in effect Nebraska scored three runs in the top of the 10th off of four hits and two A&M errors. The Aggies came up in the bottom of the inning with Crystal Martin placed on second according to the international tie breaker. Nicole Robinson came in to pinch hit and drew a walk as did right fielder Rocky Spencer, loading the bases for Selena Collins, the 2002 Big 12 Player of the Year. Collins delivered as she sliced a triple into the right field corner clearing the bases and tying the game. Collins would be stranded 60 feet from home as the Aggies could not bring in the winning run.
In the top of the 11th Nebraska bunted Buchholz over to third but could not get her home as Lisa Wangler reached on a fielders choice and Adrian Gregory threw out the streaking Buchholz at home. With two outs and a runner on first Selena Collins ended the Huskers inning as she threw out Wangler as she attempted to steal second.
In the Aggie 11th Sherah Atkins came in to pinch run and was placed on second to begin the inning. Pitcher Lindsay Wilhelmson was intentionally walked bringing up senior Crystal Martin with no outs and two runners on. Martin drew the fifth walk of the day for the Aggies loading the bases and setting the table for a teammate to step up and be the hero. The Aggies could not bring a runner home as they stranded all three taking the game into the 12th inning.
The Aggies finally won the game in the bottom of the 12th when Adrian Gregory delivered a game winning double that scored Spencer from third. Spencer reached base on a fielders choice and advanced to second while Jana James, who was placed on second at the beginning of the inning, was caught in a run-down between second and third. Spencer advanced to third on a wild pitch that was thrown while Peaches James was intentionally walking Selena Collins. With Collins on first and Spencer on second Gregory stepped to the plate and provided the heroics with a line drive in the left field gap bringing Spencer in for the winning run.
The Aggies play again on Wednesday as they host Sam Houston State in a double header beginning at 5 p.m.