April 22, 2003
The Longhorns (36-7, 13-2), ranked third nationally, defeated the No. 19 Aggies (33-16, 9-6) 4-1 Tuesday night in a game that was closer than the score would let on. As in the last game it was a Horns home run that clinched the game as designated player Amber Hall hit a three-run shot in the sixth to lift Texas over A&M. Junior Jessica Slataper (12-11, 5-4) got the start for the Aggies and faced off against Texas' Cat Osterman (21-4, 9-1).
Freshman Rocky Spencer provided the first run of the game in the first inning when she took Osterman's 1-0 delivery and deposited it over the left field fence giving the Aggies a 1-0 lead. Spencer's home run was the first of her career and the first earned run A&M has scored against the Longhorns when Osterman has been in the circle. It was also the first earned run given up by Osterman during conference action this season.
The Longhorns evened the score in the fourth inning when Wynter Turner hit a triple to right field, that just missed being a home run as it hit the top of the fence, and then scored when Tamara Poppe singled up the middle tying the game at one apiece.
Texas added three more runs in the sixth inning off Hall's three-run home run. The table was set for Hall when Wynter Turner reached on a walk and Tamara Poppe reached on a fielders choice. Hall was up 2-0 in the count before she drove Slataper's pitch over the right-center field fence raising the Longhorn lead to 4-1.
Texas A&M mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh as they loaded the bases bringing up senior All-American Selena Collins with two outs. Cheryl Fowler started the rally by reaching on a misplayed grounder to the shortstop. Sophomore Adrian Gregory followed with a single to left and Spencer reached by working Osterman to a full count before being hit by a pitch loading the bases and bringing up Collins. With a 2-and-1 count Collins hit a high chopper to third that nearly cleared Poppe's glove but did not get quite high enough as the Longhorn third baseman fielded the ball stepping on third and ending the game.
Slataper threw her 19th complete game of the year as she dropped to 12-11 and 5-4 striking out six, walking two and allowing four earned runs off of five hits.
Osterman improved to 21-4 and 9-1 as she struck out seven, had no walks and allowed one run on five hits.
A&M hosts its final home game of the season on Thursday when the Baylor Bears (28-25, 2-13) come to town. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Aggie Softball Complex. Live audio and stats will be available by logging on to AggieAthletics.com.