March 19, 2004
Freshman Sharonda McDonald put her name in the Aggie softball record books with four stolen bases in the Aggies 10-5 loss to DePaul in the Kia Klassic on Friday.
McDonald tied the record in the fourth when she stole second and third on consecutive pitches before breaking the record in the seventh. After laying down a bunt single, McDonald took off on the next pitch and nabbed a new school record 30 stolen bases. McDonald is 30-for-32 on the season and has stolen at least two bases in seven games with a high of four against Robert Morris on March 13 and DePaul on Friday. The previous season mark was 29 set by Hollee Hayden in 2001.
As a team the Aggies are pushing for the season record of 112 stolen bases set in 1999. Through 32 games A&M has nabbed 89 bases in 94 attempts. They tied their school mark with 11 in the Robert Morris game.
DePaul center fielder Linda Secka put the Blue Devils on top in the top of the first with a one out solo home run to right field. DePaul threatened to put add to their lead as their next batter singled to center and advanced to second on the error but freshman right hander Jill Weynand struck out the next two batters, thwarting the first inning rally.
The Aggies quickly answered in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own. McDonald got them started with a bunt single before advancing to third on a Rocky Spencer single. Both base runners then scored when Jana James ripped a single to center.
The Aggies added a third run in the second off of three singles. Second baseman Sherah Atkins became the third run after she reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on another McDonald single. Atkins was plated when Spencer got her second hit of the game with a single up the middle.
DePaul struck back with two runs in the third. Secka singled through the middle scoring pitcher Sarah Martz from second base. Martz reached second on a single and a wild pitch. DePaul tied the game at three when first baseman Saskia Roberson scored from third on a single to center.
The Blue Devils retook the lead in the top of the seventh on a throwing error that allowed shortstop Jenny Doezie to score from second base. With one out and the bases loaded Roberson delivered a two-run single past a diving Adrian Gregory at shortstop giving DePaul a 6-3 lead. DePaul tacked on four more runs in the game and took a 10-3 lead in to the bottom of the seventh.
The Aggies mounted a two-run rally in their last at-bat but could not put any more runs across falling to 1-3 in the tournament.
Freshman Jill Weynand (7-5) took the loss in her 12th start after throwing 5 1/3 innings and allowing eight runs, four earned, on 10 hits while striking out seven.
Senior Lindsay Wilhelmson worked 1 2/3 innings in relief allowing two runs on one hit and two walks.
Texas A&M takes on No. 23 Arizona State in the consolation bracket at 3 p.m. (CST) on Saturday.
Tournament information, as well as live stats, will be available throughout the weekend on AggieAthletics.com.