February 21, 2004
The No. 15 Texas A&M softball team (7-7, 0-0) dropped a game to Illinois 4-3 and defeated Boston 1-0 in the St. Joseph Aggie Invitational I on Saturday. The Aggies knocked off the Terriers in their second game on the strength off freshman Laura Durham's solo home run and the right arm of redshirt freshman Jill Weynand.
"We really needed a win," Coach Evans said. "We just needed to feel good about ourselves. We took ourselves right out of it in the first game. That was frustrating because Wilhelmson threw well enough to win but we had three unearned runs. Against Boston we shored up our defense and that really helped a lot."
In the nightcap, against Boston, A&M scored the lone run of the game when freshman third baseman Laura Durham hit her first home run of her career giving the Aggies a 1-0 lead.
Coach Evans didn't expect to be able to play Durham this weekend, due to injury, but was glad that Durham showed that she could play through the pain.
"It was good to see Laura Durham coming off the bench, having been injured. She had a broken thumb and we didn't even know if she could play yet. She came up about five minutes before game time and said that she could throw. So she went in there and did a great job in that first at-bat. She got the pitch she was looking for and really drove the ball."
One run was all freshman Jill Weynand needed as she earned her fourth win of the season. Weynand threw a complete game shutout while only allowing two hits and striking out 10 batters.
Evans was glad to see her freshman hurler bounce back from a disappointing outing on Friday.
"I thought she did great. She did a good job with her changeup, mixing up pitches and she got them to chase the rise ball. Jill really has all the pitches. It is just a matter of her building confidence and getting comfortable out there."
Against Illinios, A&M, who was the designated visiting team, wasted no time in taking the lead as they scored one run in the top of the first. With one out, junior Adrian Gregory earned a walk and moved to second when right fielder Jana James hit in to a fielder's choice. Gregory then scored from second on a Kristin Gunter single up the middle.
Illinois capitalized on an Aggie error in the bottom of the first when lead off hitter Lindsey Hamma hit a grounder to third that was fumbled by junior Morgan Hebert. Hamma promptly stole second and then crossed the plate on a Jenna Hall single to left field.
The Illini took the lead in the fourth on Hebert's second error of the day. Hebert was picked up by her teammates in the top of the fifth as they put two runs across, giving A&M a one-run lead. Freshman speedster Sharonda McDonald started the inning by legging out a bunt and then advancing to second on a fielding error by the second baseman. McDonald scored when Gregory doubled down the left field line. The Aggies moved ahead, 3-2, when left fielder Jana James hit her third double of the season over the center fielder's head.
Illinois tied the game at three in the bottom of the inning when cleanup hitter Erin Montgomery hit a single to center field scoring Hall from second. Hall reached on a throwing error by Aggie pitcher Lindsay Wilhelmson and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
The Illini took the final lead of the game, 4-3, in the sixth when Rachelle Coriddi hit a single to right center scoring Sarah Baumgartner from second.
The Aggies could not overtake the Illini in their last at-bat and fell to them for the second day. Amanda Fortune earned the win in relief as she threw 2.2 innings of work, allowing no runs on three hits.
Wilhelmson took the loss, dropping her record to 1-2, after pitching six innings and allowing one earned run on six hits.
The final two games of the St. Joseph Aggie Invitational I begin at 10 a.m. tomorrow with Boston and Illinois. Texas A&M and A&M-Corpus Christi will close tournament play after the conclusion of the Boston and Illinois game.
Free parking for Sunday's 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. Fans can park at Reed Arena (PA 102) for a fee of $2.
Live stats for Sunday's games will be available on AggieAthletics.com.
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
Saturday Results
10 a.m. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi defeated Boston 5-2
12:15 p.m. Illinois defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 7-0
2:30 p.m. Illinois defeated Texas A&M 4-3
4:45 p.m. Texas A&M defeated Boston 1-0
Remaining Tournament Schedule
Sunday, February 22, 2004
10:00 a.m. Boston Univ. vs. Illinois
12:00 p.m. TAMU-Corpus vs. A&M