February 20, 2004
The No. 15 Texas A&M softball team moved to 6-6 Friday after defeating Boston University 4-0 and losing to Illinois 5-0 in the Aggie Invitational I. A&M freshman right-hander Christina Smith pitched the Aggies past the Terriers in their first game as she threw a complete game five hit shut out. Smith struck out seven and walked only two batters on her 19th birthday.
In their first game the Aggies, who were the designated visitors, jumped on top of the Terriers in the top of the second when designated player Lindsay Wilhelmson hit a single through the left side scoring first baseman Kristen Gunter from second. Wilhelmson did not receive an RBI on the play due to a fielding error by Boston left fielder Brandi Shields. The error allowed Gunter to score after reaching second when she led off the inning with her third double of the season.
The Aggies added three in the third off of three walks, two hits and two errors. Left fielder Jana James drove in the first two runs when she hit a single to center, scoring center fielder Sharonda McDonald and shortstop Adrian Gregory. McDonald scored on the single, with Gregory advancing to home and James advancing to second on a fielding error by the center fielder. James scored the third run when Gunter hit her second double of the day, driving the delivery over the left fielders head.
Four runs were all Smith needed in earning her second win of the season, bringing her record to 2-2. On the season Smith has a staff-best 1.29 ERA, in 21.2 innings of work, as well as 16 strikeouts.
A&M and Illinois squared off in the nightcap and it was the Illini who struck first when they put one run across in the top of the first. Illinois leadoff hitter Lindsey Hamma scored from third on a Jenna Hall single up the middle. Hamma reached first on a single to left field before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch.
Illinois increased their lead to 3-0 in the third with Jenna Hall hit a two-run home run to right field. Hamma scored her second run of the day on the home run after hitting a double to lead off the inning.
Hall made her impact felt again in the sixth when she led off the inning with her second home run in as many at-bats. Hall took redshirt freshman Jill Weynand's pitch and dropped it just over the fence in left field, giving the Illini a 4-0 lead.
Illinois added an insurance run in the seventh, increasing their lead to 5-0 and cementing the upset.
Weynand dropped to 3-2 with the loss as she has been defeated in her last two outings. Weynand allowed five runs, all earned, on nine hits while striking out three and walking two.
Parking for the 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. games on Saturday is available for free in the Olsen Field Parking lot (PA 63), located across the street from the Aggie Softball Field. Due to a baseball game at 3 p.m., fans can park for a fee of $2 at Reed Arena (PA 102) for the 2:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. games. Free parking for these games and the Sunday games is available in lot PA 100, located directly across the street from the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center, and Lots 101 and 102, on the north side of Reed Arena.
Live stats for all remaining games will be available on AggieAthletics.com. Live audio will be available for Saturday's A&M games.
Aggie Invitational I - Friday Results
10 a.m. Illinois defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 1-0
12:15 p.m. Boston defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 10-2
2:30 p.m. Texas A&M defeated Boston 4-0
4:45 p.m. Illinois defeated
Remaining Tournament Schedule
Saturday, February 21, 2004
10:00 a.m. TAMU-Corpus vs. Boston Univ.
12:15 p.m. TAMU-Corpus vs. Illinois
2:30 p.m. A&M vs. Illinois
4:45 p.m. A&M vs. Boston Univ.
Sunday, February 22, 2004
10:00 a.m. Boston Univ. vs. Illinois
12:00 p.m. TAMU-Corpus vs. A&M