Texas A&M
Sam Houston State
Slataper Pitches Perfect Game as Aggies Sweep Bearkats
Mar 26, 2003 | Softball
March 26, 2003
No. 20 Texas A&M (25-11, 3-1) took two games from Sam Houston State (18-6, 7-5) on Wednesday as they topped the Bearkats 5-3 and 11-0 in the double header at the Aggie Softball Complex. The Aggies squeaked out the 5-3 victory in the first game but had no trouble in the second as the A&M bats were hot and junior Jessica Slataper was even hotter as she threw a perfect game.
A&M beat the Bearkats 5-3 in the first game of the double header on the strength of senior Crystal Martin's sixth inning home run. The Aggies and Bearkats were knotted at three runs apiece when the shortstop from Arlington hit a rocket over the left field wall scoring Morgan Hebert who was pinch running for Kristin Gunter. The game winning homerun was Martin's sixth homerun of the year.
The Aggies started the scoring early as they put two runs on the board in the bottom of the first with freshman Rocky Spencer reaching on a hit and advancing to third on a wild pitch and a passed ball followed by Selena Collins reaching on an error. With runners on the corners sophomore Adrian Gregory came to the plate and drove in a run as she hit the ball back to the pitcher scoring Spencer from third and advancing Collins to second. Collins was next to cross the plate as Kristin Gunter stepped into the box and delivered a single through the right side scoring Collins and giving the Aggies a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the second the Bearkats were quick to even the score as Melissa Cosgrove hit her third home run of the year tying the game at two apiece.
Texas A&M jumped back on top in the bottom of the second when senior Jennifer Davis reached on a fielders choice and later scored off of a Spencer single to the right field gap giving the Aggies a 3-2 advantage.
Sam Houston State tied the game again in the top of the third but could not take the lead as the Aggies held on and awaited Martin's sixth inning game winning heroics.
Sam Houston State did not stand a chance in the second game as the Aggies came out swinging and Slataper stifled the Bearkat bats by retiring all fifteen of the batters that came to the plate. Slataper only had four strikeouts in the game but was able to earn her seventh win of the season as she was backed by a solid Aggie defense and explosive offense.
Texas A&M was quick to get on the board as Jana James led off the first with a base hit followed by a single from Spencer and a walk to Collins. With the bases loaded and no outs Gunter came to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring James from third and putting the Aggies up 1-0.
A&M took a 2-0 lead in the second when Cheryl Fowler advanced to third off of a walk, a stolen base and an error by the catcher before scoring on a James single through the right side.
Junior designated player Lindsay Wilhelmson increased the Aggies lead in the bottom of the third with a two-run homerun over the left field wall scoring Kristin Gunter who reached base on a double. Martin followed Wilhelmson to the plate and was placed on first after being hit by a pitch. She advanced to second by stealing her ninth base of the year and then scored when Jennifer Davis hit a stand-up double down the left field line. Davis did not stay on second for long as she scored off of Fowler's double to center field. The Aggies added two more runs in the third as Gregory recorded another RBI by knocking in Spencer who reached on a fielders choice, and Collins crossed the plate after earning a walk and advancing to third on Gregory's single.
The Aggies added two additional runs in the fourth inning as freshman Lindsay Park reached on a double and scored when Cheryl Fowler hit a single up the middle. Fowler's single advanced Morgan Hebert, who reached on an error, to third and then scored the Aggies' final run of the game when James hit a single to center field.
The Aggies return to conference action this Saturday and Sunday when they travel to Columbia, Missouri to take on the Tigers in a two game set. Games are scheduled for Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at noon. Fans can follow the action of Texas A&M softball by logging on to AggieAthletics.com and watching live stats of the weekend series.
