March 14, 2004
Seniors Jessica Kapchinski and Lindsay Wilhelmson worked in tandem, each pitching four innings, to knock off the No. 19 Nebraska Cornhuskers 3-2 in an eight-inning semifinal game at the Florida State Invitational on Sunday. The Aggies improved to 17-11 on the season and advanced to the championship game but could not play due to travel restrictions.
The Aggies were named runner-up in the tournament after the pool play record was compared with Michigan and Florida State who are playing in the other semi-final match. Michigan also announced that they would be unable to play the championship game, also due to travel considerations.
Texas A&M Head Coach Jo Evans commented on the team's performance and the missed opportunity in playing in the championship game.
"It was a great day for us. It is nice to beat Nebraska. They are always competitive. I thought our team did a good job early on when Nebraska made mistakes and we took advantage of those mistakes. Sharonda McDonald found a way to get herself on. She is so fast and makes things happen. It was nice to see Adrian Gregory step up and get a big sac fly. Jessica did a really nice job on the mound the first few innings and kept them down. Then Lindsay came in in a tough situation and did a really nice job. She threw a lot of ground ball s which is exactly what we expect her to do. The great thing today is that we got out of a lot of tight jams. We were in some tough situations and I thought we handled them well and did a nice job. It was a blessing to have Sharonda on second in the tie-breaker. I don't know anybody else that could have scored from second on that hit by Jana (James). I was excited about Jana because she started coming through in the clutch and getting some RBI's and we really needed that.
"It is always great when you have a chance to play in a championship game. It is unfortunate that we are unable to play in it. We tried to make different flight arrangements but it just didn't work out and Michigan is in the same situation. We got a lot of games and that is what we came here to do. We ended on a positive note and I think that is going to give us a lot of confidence going in to the Kia, which is the toughest tournament in the country."
Kapchinski got the start and worked four innings allowing two hits and one run while striking out six and walking four. Wilhelmson entered in relief in the fifth with one on and not outs and finished the game as she allowed one run on four hits while striking out three.
Adrian Gregory gave A&M a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when she hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring Sharonda McDonald from third. McDonald led off the game with a bunt single, advanced to second on a throwing error by Husker catcher Jamie Waldecker and stole third before scoring on the sac fly.
A&M doubled their lead in the third off of one hit and another Husker error. McDonald scored her second run of the game when Nebraska third baseman Carmen Kier fielded Rocky Spencer's high hopper and threw the ball over the first baseman's head. Spencer beat the throw and earned the hit while McDonald scored from first giving the Aggies 2-0 lead.
Nebraska threatened to score in the bottom of the fourth when they loaded the bases on two walks and a single to center. With two outs Kapchinski struck out pinch hitter Katie Linke to end the Husker rally.
The Huskers loaded the bases again with no outs in the fifth and pushed two runs across on two hits tying the game.
Nebraska retired the Aggies in order in the top of the seventh before loading the bases in the bottom of the inning on a double, a walk and a fielder's choice. Wilhelmson did not allow a ball to leave the infield as she kept it down forcing a ground out to bring the end of regulation.
With the international tie-breaker in effect in the eighth, Jana James broke Husker pitcher Peaches James' streak of 33 consecutive innings without allowing a run. James hit a single to right scoring McDonald and putting the Aggies ahead to stay.
In the bottom of the inning Nebraska moved the tie-break runner to third on a groundout but could not get her home as Wilhelmson struck out the final batter to seal the win for the Ags in their first extra-inning game of the season.
"It was a tough situation," Wilhelmson said. "I had finally gotten comfortable with my pitches and I knew if I could keep the ball down and keep her in the infield then we could get the out. It was an added bonus to end the game on the strikeout."
Texas A&M takes the field again on Thursday when they begin play in the Kia Classic in Fullerton, Ca. A&M opens the tournament with Princeton at 7 p.m. (CST) on Thursday followed by No. 8 Washington at 9 p.m.
Live stats for the Kia Classic will be available on AggieAthletics.com.