April 19, 2003
No. 19 Texas A&M (33-15, 9-5) split their double header with Iowa State (18-23, 5-9) Saturday as they won their first game 8-5 and dropped the second in a 6-5 thriller at the Aggie Softball Complex in front of 789 fans, their largest crowd of the season. In the opening game sophomore Adrian Gregory hit two home runs while both teams combined for seven round-trippers. Iowa State took the second game as they exploded for four runs in the fifth inning to take the lead and down the Aggies at home for the first time in conference play this season.
In the opening game in the top of the first Iowa State pitcher Erica Martinez put the Cyclones on the board when she hit Jessica Slataper's 0-1 delivery over the center field fence scoring the first run of the game.
The Aggies were quick to answer as leadoff hitter Adrian Gregory fought off Martinez's inside pitches and finally drove her 3-2 offering deep into right-center over the fence for her eighth home run of the season. Freshman Rocky Spencer followed Gregory with a single to left field and promptly stole second before advancing to third when Selena Collins grounded out to third base. Sophomore Jana James stepped to the plate with one out and placed a single through the right side scoring Gregory and giving the Aggies a 2-1 lead. A&M added their final two runs of the inning off of a home run from Crystal Martin, her eighth round-tripper, to straightaway centerfield scoring James and raising the lead to 4-1.
With one out in the second Gregory hit her ninth home run of the season and second of the game as she drilled a line drive clearing the centerfield fence giving the Aggies a 5-1 lead.
Cyclone catcher Katie Ruby got two of their runs back in the third inning when she hit a home run to left field giving her six for the season. Leadoff hitter Julia Lindsey scored on the dinger after reaching on a single to leftfield.
A&M designated player Lindsay Wilhelmson would continue the home run tag by hitting a two-run monster shot over the scoreboard in left field for her first home run of the game and ninth of the season. Sophomore Jana James crossed the plate on the home run, after singling up the middle and stealing second, giving the Aggies a 7-0 lead.
Katie Ruby hit the games seventh home run and third two-run shot when she took Slataper deep for the second time blasting a shot over the scoreboard in the fifth inning bringing the Cyclones within three runs.
Slataper would not allow them to get any closer as she closed out the game by retiring Iowa State's last six batters. Slataper pitched the complete game, her 18th of the year, and earned the win improving to 12-10 on the year. The junior from Humble struck out seven and walked two in the effort.
In the second game A&M jumped on top early when Martin hit a single to left in the second inning scoring James and freshman Kristin Gunter. Gunter reached by leading off with a single up the middle and advancing to on James' double that went to the left field fence.
Iowa State cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth when designated player Erica Martinez scored after leading off with a single, advancing to second on a fielders choice, moving to third on an Aggie error and finally crossing the plate on another fielders choice.
Iowa State took the lead in the fifth inning when they put four runs on the board with six hits that included four singles, one double and a triple. They added another run in the, sixth doubling up the Aggies, when Misty Kimura led-off the inning with a home run to right-center giving the Cyclones a 6-3 lead.
Down three in their last at-bat A&M put their first two batters on as seniors Jennifer Davis and Cheryl Fowler each reached on singles up the middle. Sherah Atkins came in to pinch run for Davis and scored, along with Fowler, when Collins hit a double to right. The two runs were all the Aggies could muster as the Cyclones held-off the Aggie rally beating them 6-5.
All three Aggie pitchers threw in the game with Lindsay Wilhelmson (15-5) getting the start and receiving the loss after pitching four and one third innings, striking out four and not walking any batters. Lindsey Rippee came in for Wilhelmson in the fifth and pitched one and two-thirds innings allowing one run on three hits. Slataper, the Aggies game one starter, closed out the game as she pitched the seventh inning, walking two and striking out one but not allowing any runs.
After the game Coach Evans and staff honored the 2003 seniors with gifts and a dinner as they prepare to say goodbye to five teammates. The seniors on this years squad are catcher Selena Collins, third baseman Jennifer Davis, shortstop Crystal Martin, center fielder Cheryl Fowler and pitcher Lindsey Rippee.
The Aggies take the field again on Tuesday when the host the No. 4 ranked University of Texas Longhorns at 6:30.