April 24, 2004
The No. 24 Aggie softball team extended its win streak to 10 and kept their conference title hopes alive as they defeated Missouri, 2-0, at the Aggie Softball Field on Saturday. The Aggies improved to 30-16 overall and 12-1 in conference play and remain a game behind 10-0 Nebraska in the Big 12. Catcher Nicole Robinson and right fielder Jana James combined for the Aggies' two runs as Robinson drove in James in the fourth and James hit a solo homer in the sixth.
"I am excited for our kids," A&M Head Coach Jo Evans said. "It was a really good win for us. We have been really good about not looking ahead and playing it a game at a time. I think we did that today. We came out and expected to win and we got a play out of every player out there."
Senior Jessica Kapchinski continued her dominance in the circle as she improved to 15-5 overall and 11-1 in conference. She kept the Tiger batters off balance all day as she allowed only two hits and one walk while striking out four. Kapchinski has pitched a complete game in each of her nine conference starts and owns a league-best 0.29 ERA.
"I thought Jessica threw really well today," Evans continued. "She was very loose and her rise ball was working great. She is very comfortable and poised out there right now. She has done a great job for us the entire conference season."
After James singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch in the fourth, Robinson delivered a two-out single to left plating James and giving Kapchinksi the one run she would need.
James' homer in the sixth threw an insurance run on the board and set the table for Kapchinski and the Aggie defense to close out the seventh and move the Aggies to 30 wins.
Evans has now led the Aggies to 30 wins in each of her eight seasons in Aggieland and with 12 conference wins has her team atop the Aggie record book. The Aggies previous high was 11 wins in 1996, the inaugural season of the Big 12.
With the loss Missouri falls to 21-22 and 8-3 in conference and remains in third place. Erin Kalka (17-14) took the loss as she allowed two runs on seven hits.
The Aggies and Tigers close out the series tomorrow at noon. Sunday is senior day as the Aggies will honor second baseman Sherah Atkins and pitchers Jessica Kapchinski and Lindsay Wilhelmson.
Live audio and stats will be available on AggieAthletics.com.