May 18, 2003
The No. 22 Texas A&M softball team (38-22) was eliminated from the playoffs Sunday when they fell 10-5 to one-seed and top-ranked Arizona at Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. A&M advanced to the regional final with a 3-1 record as they defeated Boston College once and South Carolina twice with their only loss coming to Arizona in the final game of the winners bracket on Saturday. After the loss A&M had to defeat SC for the second time in the tournament in order to earn another shot at the Wildcats in Sunday's championship game. The Aggies advanced to the regional final the last two years. The last time an Aggie team accomplished that feat was the 1987 and 1988 seasons.
The Wildcats got off to a hot start as they posted two runs in the top of the first but the Aggies more than matched the Wildcat challenge when they put four runs of their own on the board in the bottom of the frame. Shortstop Crystal Martin provided the power when she hit her 10th home run, and first grand slam, of the season over the left field wall. Sophomore Adrian Gregory got the Aggie rally started by leading off the game with a single to left field and advanced to second when freshman Rocky Spencer put down a bunt that Arizona hurler Hollowell fielded and threw to second just missing the sliding Gregory and allowing Spencer to reach on the fielders choice. Hollowell loaded the bases when she walked Jana James setting the table for Martin. Martin wasted no time in shocking the Wildcat faithful as she promptly planted the offering into the left field bleachers giving A&M a 4-2 lead.
Arizona responded in the top of the next inning with three runs on four hits and one Aggie error. After leading off the inning with a single to right field Lisha Ribellia scored on a fielders choice and a throwing error by A&M. Lovie Jung gave the Wildcats their next two runs as she hit her 25th home run of the year scoring Courtney Fossatti, who reached on a fielders choice, lifting the Cats to a 5-4 lead.
Junior Lindsay Wilhelmson got the start for the Aggies and pitched 1.2 innings before being replaced by Lindsey Rippee in the second inning after giving up five runs, four earned, on eight hits. Lindsey Rippee worked the next 4.2 innings and did not allow Arizona to score until the sixth inning when the posted two more runs on three hits and one error. Rippee pitched a masterful performance in her final game as she recorded six strikeouts, five looking, against the best hitting team in the nation. Jessica Slataper entered the game in the seventh, inheriting two base runners from Rippee, and closed the game out allowing the base runners to score on a double by Mackenzie Vandergeest and later cross the plate on a single by pinch hitter Erin Palomarez increasing their lead to 10-4.
The Aggies mounted a two-out comeback in the bottom of the seventh when Rocky Spencer reached on a drag bunt to second starting the rally. Selena Collins followed Spencer with a walk putting two on with two outs. Jana James loaded the bases for the Ags by drawing a walk bringing up first-inning hero Martin. For the second time in the game Martin delivered with the bases loaded as she hit an infield single to second that she beat out by sliding into the base. Spencer scored on the hit bringing the Aggies within five runs bringing up designated player Lindsay Wilhemson. Wilhelmson gave her team her best effort as she roped a 1-2 pitch from Hollowell down the left field line that Autumn Champion caught in a full sprint to end the game and send the Wildcats to the World Series for the 16th straight year.
Three Aggies were named to the All-Regional team including shortstop Crystal Martin, pitcher Lindsay Wilhelmson, and outfielder Jana James. Martin was 5-of-16 on the weekend with a .312 average with two home runs, including a grand slam, and seven rbi. On the weekend Wilhelmson (18-8) was 2-1 in the circle in four appearances with 17.1 innings pitched, five strikeouts, one walk and five earned runs. James had the best weekend of any Aggie as she hit at a .467 clip with two doubles, two triples, one home run (grand slam), and seven rbi's. James also walked four times and had a 1.067 slugging percentage in the regional.
Texas A&M was one of three Big 12 teams that reached the round of sixteen in this years tournament. Texas and Oklahoma both won their regionals and advanced to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City next week. Oklahoma State, Nebraska, and Missouri participated in the NCAA's this year but were eliminated before championship Sunday.
With the loss Coach Evans and staff say goodbye to five seniors who have left an indelible mark on the A&M program. The 2004 Aggies will have to replace catcher Selena Collins, third baseman Jennifer Davis, shortstop Crystal Martin, center fielder Cheryl Fowler, and pitcher Lindsey Rippee.