February 13, 2004
The No. 18 Texas A&M softball team improved to 4-0 on the season after knocking off No. 20 Oregon 8-3 in their first game at the Fiesta Bowl Classic.
The Aggies capitalized on their speed and patience at the plate as they scored in the first, third and seventh innings. A&M was led at the plate by junior shortstop Adrian Gregory, sophomore right fielder Rocky Spencer and freshman center fielder Sharonda McDonald. Gregory was 2-for-4 with four RBI and Spencer was 2-for-3 with three RBI on a fourth inning home run. Freshman Sharonda McDonald continued to show her speed as she went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two stolen bases.
The Aggies jumped ahead in the first inning when McDonald led off the game with a slap single before stealing second for her fifth stolen base of the season. McDonald scored from second when Gregory reached first on a single that bounced off the glove of the first baseman.
Oregon evened the score in the bottom of the second when Beth Boskovich led off with a double to the left field gap, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and finally scored on a passed ball.
A&M jumped back on top of the Ducks in the top of the third when Gregory drove in her second and third runs of the game on a single to left field. Gregory advanced to second on a throw home. Freshman second baseman Joy Davis scored from third after hitting a single, stealing second, her fifth of the season, and advancing to third on McDoanld*s single. With a heads up play McDonald advanced to second on her hit when Oregon shortstop Breanne Sabol tried to throw Davis out at third. McDonald scored the Ags second run on Gregory*s single.
The Aggies added to their lead in the fourth inning when sophomore right fielder Rocky Spencer hit a blast to center field. Spencer*s home run added three runs to the Aggie advantage as senior designated player Lindsay Wilhelmson and freshman third baseman Laura Durham crossed home on Spencer*s round-tripper. The home run was Spencer*s first of the season and second of her career.
Oregon took a step closer in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to center field by third baseman Ashley Richards. They added another run in the fifth on a Richards single to the right field gap that scored Breanne Sabol.
A&M added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh when Davis and McDonald scored again. Davis reached on a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball and stole home on a double steal with McDonald. McDonald scored after she reached on a single, stole second, advanced to third on a throw home and finally crossed the plate on a Gregory ground-out to shortstop.
Redshirt freshman Jill Weynand earned her second win of the season after throwing five innings of work. The right-hander from Frisco, Texas gave up three runs, two earned, on seven hits and three walks in the effort.
Wilhelmson earned her first save of the season as she took over in the circle in the sixth inning and closed out the game. Wilhelmson pitched two innings and did not allow a run while striking out two batters.
A&M takes on No. 2 Arizona beginning at 4:30 (CST). Scoring updates available on AggieAthletics.com. A full day recap will be released at the completion of the game with Arizona.