February 27, 2004
Right handers Jill Weynand and Lindsay Wilhelmson dominated the Aggie opponents from the circle as the No. 23 Texas A&M softball team improved to 10-7 after defeating Southern Mississippi 10-3 and Penn State 4-2 in the St. Joseph Aggie Invitational II on Friday. Weynand tossed a complete game, 10 strikeout performance in the win over USM while Wilhelmson mowed down 11 hitters in her complete game performance against Penn State.
Coach Evans was pleased with the intensity and confidence her team showed and looks for them to build off their Friday performances.
"It was really critical for us to come out today and play with more intensity, to have our level of focus be a little bit higher than what it was. Yesterday we talked about coming out and starting this tournament aggressively, and I saw that in our team I and I think that made all the difference. I think our kids feel a lot more confident. Those wins make us feel more comfortable about our play and more confident of what we can do."
Against Southern Mississippi the Aggies scored a run in all seven innings giving Weynand, a redshirt freshman from Frisco, more than enough support as she earned here fifth win of the season in her sixth complete game effort.
The Aggies, who were the designated visitors, jumped out to an early 2-0 lead as junior Adrian Gregory and left fielder Jana James scored. With two outs Gregory hit a single up the middle setting the table for James. James delivered with her fifth double of the season scoring Gregory from first. James advanced to third on an error by USM shortstop Jessica Huerta. First baseman Kristen Gunter quickly recorded her fifth RBI of the season when she singled up the middle scoring James from third and doubling the Aggies lead.
Junior catcher Nicole Robinson increased A&M's lead in the top of the second as she took Danielle Hatfield's first pitch and knocked it over the right field wall giving the Ags a 3-0 lead. Freshman Sharonda McDonald kept the scoring going as she slapped a single to second, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher and finally crossed the plate as right fielder Rocky Spencer grounded out to shortstop.
The Aggies added their fifth run in the third inning off of one hit, two walks and a wild pitch. Gunter scored the run after earning a walk, advancing to third on a Laura Durham double to left center and crossing the plate on a wild pitch.
McDonald gave the Aggies a six-run lead in the fourth after singling on a bouncer over the pitchers head, advancing to second on a passed ball, stealing third and crossing home when the catcher threw the ball in to left field. With her second stolen base of the day McDonald moved to a perfect 13-for-13 on the season.
A&M added a seventh run in the fifth when pinch runner Lisa Gorzycki scored on a double by designated player Lindsay Wilhelmson. Gorzycki was pinch running for Gunter who singled to center to lead off the inning.
A&M increased their lead to 8-0 in the sixth inning when designated player hitter Morgan Hebert drew a bases loaded walk scoring Gregory from third. Gregory reached on a single, moved to second when James Walked and advanced to third when USM second baseman made a fielding error on a grounder by sophomore Lindsay Park.
USM cut the lead to five in the bottom of the sixth when shortstop Jessica Huerta hit a two-out three-run home run to left center.
The Aggies put one more across in the seventh when second baseman Sherah Atkins led off with a double to left center, her first of the season, moved to third on a passed ball and was scored when McDonald grounded out to second base. The Ags added a tenth and final run when James singled in Spencer from second after she earned a walk and stole second.
The scoring did not come as frequently in the nightcap against Penn State, but four runs were all Wilhelmson, a senior from North Richland Hills, would need as she hurled her third complete game and struck out a personal season-high 11 batters.
The Aggies took the first lead of the game when James scored on a bases loaded passed ball. James led off the inning with a walk, advanced to second on a fielding error on a Wilhelmson grounder and advanced to third on another fielding error on a Laura Durham grounder. Wilhelmson and Durham were plated when Atkins singled up the middle giving A&M a 3-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions cut the lead to one in the top of the sixth when center fielder Leigh Murray hit her first home run of the season scoring right fielder Meghan Wolfer from first.
A&M got one run back in the sixth when Durham hit a laser shot down the left field line, scoring James from third. James reached base by singling to left field. She stole second and moved to third on a ground out by Gunter.
Wilhelmson shut the door on the Lions as she struck out two in the seventh to even her record at 2-2.
Play in the St. Joseph Aggie Invitational II continues tomorrow at 10 a.m., with A&M playing at 2:30 and 4:45 on Saturday. Live stats for all tournament games are available on AggieAthletics.com. Live audio is available for the A&M games only.
Aggie Invitational I - Friday Results
10 a.m. No. 17 Oregon defeated Penn State 4-0
12:15 p.m. Oregon defeated Southern Mississippi 13-3
2:30 p.m. No. 23 Texas A&M defeated Southern Mississippi 10-3
4:45 p.m. Texas A&M defeated Penn State 4-2
Remaining Tournament Schedule
Saturday, February 21, 2004
10:00 a.m. Oregon vs. Southern Mississippi
12:15 p.m. Southern Mississippi vs. Penn State
2:30 p.m. A&M vs. Penn State
4:45 p.m. A&M vs. Oregon
Sunday, February 22, 2004
10:00 a.m. Oregon vs. Penn State
12:00 p.m. A&M vs. Southern Mississippi